Today was the 14th spring practice, just the second held outdoors all spring. Up next is the Spring Game on Saturday in Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is noon ET. Let's take a Deep Dive into the final practice of the spring.
1. Interesting to note that Alex Criddle was with the first-team offensive line at left guard today. He took the spot held most of the spring by redshirt freshman Jimmy McKenna. Criddle is a senior who was moved from defensive to offensive line during bowl practices last season. It also was interesting to note that o-line coach Dale Williams had redshirt freshman Will Bramel taking some reps on the first-team at center. Hadn't seen that all spring.
2. A few recruits were on hand, including Class of 2020 QB Evan Prater of Wyoming High in Cincinnati. He is listed as a dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com. And he looked to be every bit of the 6-5 he is listed at. Had a chance to talk briefly with Class of 2020 DE Gage Keys, a 6-5, 230-pound DE from Davidson High in Hilliard, Ohio, who was with his mother. He has a growing list of offers and has visited Penn State, Cincinnati and Wake Forest, among other stops. Nice kid.
DE Gage Keys
3. Spoke with sophomore C Viktor Beach post-practice. He suffered from a bulging disc in his back that has kept him out most of the spring. Beach says he hurt it lifting weights in January. First, while dead-lifting. Then aggravated it during power-cleans. It has been a slow recovery. Beach says he still isn't 100 percent but has been a full-go the last week. By the way, Beach is one of the best guys to talk to on the team. Great personality and story-teller.
4. Asked Elijah Sindelar about his petition for a sixth year of eligibility. He said back in late- February that he expected to hear a response in April. Well, April is here ... Sindelar says he checked with compliance and was told his paperwork hadn't even been sent in yet. "A couple weeks ago, they said they were hoping to get it in by the next week," said Sindelar. "I am starting to tell people when they ask (about getting a sixth year), I have no idea. I have no idea." Speaking of Sindelar, news that his left knee is A-OK was big today. He was wearing a black compression sleeve on the knee as a precaution against swelling.
Elijah Sindelar's compression sleeve.
5. RB Tario Fuller was in street clothes. He also didn't practice on Monday. Jeff Brohm confirmed today that Fuller sustained an injury to a knee during Saturday's scrimmage. He won't take part in the spring game. No shock. Fuller doesn't need the work. He needs to be healthy.
6. On the subject of running backs, 6-0, 250-pound RB Richie Worship is huge. He looks like a barrel. But concerns loom about his knee, which he hurt in practice way back in November 2017. In fact, of all the injured players, Jeff Brohm says he is most worried about Worship being ready for camp: "We are doing everything we can. Unfortunately, he had a traumatic knee injury. He has done everything he can do to rehab it and get it back. It's just when we start to exert him and do some harder running and cutting, that's where some issues happen. I am not gonna rule it out, but I am not gonna be optimistic about it, either. We need to get him healthy and we are trying hard to get that done."
7. DT Lorenzo Neal is ahead of schedule and should be healthy for camp after hurting a knee vs. Indiana in November and undergoing surgery. "Lorenzo Neal will be right on the edge as far as what date that is, but still he is ahead of schedule and I think he'll be healthy for camp," said Jeff Brohm.
8. Howard Griffith of the Big Ten Network watched practice. The former Illinois fullback told me he likes the young talent on Purdue's roster. He is stopping by several schools this spring, including Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska. He has visited Maryland. Griffith's son, Houston, will be a starting boundary CB for Notre Dame this fall as a sophomore.
9. Rondale Moore wasn't at practice today. Why? Jeff Brohn said the sensational sophomore is having the braces taken off his teeth. Wonder if it will make him even faster.
10. West Lafayette High School coach Shane Fry was at practice. Speaking of WLHS, today is precocious DE George Karlaftis' 18th birthday. Several coaches from Central Catholic also watched practice today.
Thanks for reading!!
1. Interesting to note that Alex Criddle was with the first-team offensive line at left guard today. He took the spot held most of the spring by redshirt freshman Jimmy McKenna. Criddle is a senior who was moved from defensive to offensive line during bowl practices last season. It also was interesting to note that o-line coach Dale Williams had redshirt freshman Will Bramel taking some reps on the first-team at center. Hadn't seen that all spring.
2. A few recruits were on hand, including Class of 2020 QB Evan Prater of Wyoming High in Cincinnati. He is listed as a dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com. And he looked to be every bit of the 6-5 he is listed at. Had a chance to talk briefly with Class of 2020 DE Gage Keys, a 6-5, 230-pound DE from Davidson High in Hilliard, Ohio, who was with his mother. He has a growing list of offers and has visited Penn State, Cincinnati and Wake Forest, among other stops. Nice kid.
DE Gage Keys
3. Spoke with sophomore C Viktor Beach post-practice. He suffered from a bulging disc in his back that has kept him out most of the spring. Beach says he hurt it lifting weights in January. First, while dead-lifting. Then aggravated it during power-cleans. It has been a slow recovery. Beach says he still isn't 100 percent but has been a full-go the last week. By the way, Beach is one of the best guys to talk to on the team. Great personality and story-teller.
4. Asked Elijah Sindelar about his petition for a sixth year of eligibility. He said back in late- February that he expected to hear a response in April. Well, April is here ... Sindelar says he checked with compliance and was told his paperwork hadn't even been sent in yet. "A couple weeks ago, they said they were hoping to get it in by the next week," said Sindelar. "I am starting to tell people when they ask (about getting a sixth year), I have no idea. I have no idea." Speaking of Sindelar, news that his left knee is A-OK was big today. He was wearing a black compression sleeve on the knee as a precaution against swelling.
Elijah Sindelar's compression sleeve.
5. RB Tario Fuller was in street clothes. He also didn't practice on Monday. Jeff Brohm confirmed today that Fuller sustained an injury to a knee during Saturday's scrimmage. He won't take part in the spring game. No shock. Fuller doesn't need the work. He needs to be healthy.
6. On the subject of running backs, 6-0, 250-pound RB Richie Worship is huge. He looks like a barrel. But concerns loom about his knee, which he hurt in practice way back in November 2017. In fact, of all the injured players, Jeff Brohm says he is most worried about Worship being ready for camp: "We are doing everything we can. Unfortunately, he had a traumatic knee injury. He has done everything he can do to rehab it and get it back. It's just when we start to exert him and do some harder running and cutting, that's where some issues happen. I am not gonna rule it out, but I am not gonna be optimistic about it, either. We need to get him healthy and we are trying hard to get that done."
7. DT Lorenzo Neal is ahead of schedule and should be healthy for camp after hurting a knee vs. Indiana in November and undergoing surgery. "Lorenzo Neal will be right on the edge as far as what date that is, but still he is ahead of schedule and I think he'll be healthy for camp," said Jeff Brohm.
8. Howard Griffith of the Big Ten Network watched practice. The former Illinois fullback told me he likes the young talent on Purdue's roster. He is stopping by several schools this spring, including Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska. He has visited Maryland. Griffith's son, Houston, will be a starting boundary CB for Notre Dame this fall as a sophomore.
9. Rondale Moore wasn't at practice today. Why? Jeff Brohn said the sensational sophomore is having the braces taken off his teeth. Wonder if it will make him even faster.
10. West Lafayette High School coach Shane Fry was at practice. Speaking of WLHS, today is precocious DE George Karlaftis' 18th birthday. Several coaches from Central Catholic also watched practice today.
Thanks for reading!!
