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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Purdue

Previous 15 Notes

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08/02/22 - Jalen Graham, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

Purdue's senior outside linebacker Jalen Graham (6-3, 220) is expected to be the Boilermakers' best player on the defense, but he needs to showcase more of his talent. Graham, who also plays safety, nickel and could probably line up off the edge, caused havoc last season and was a disruptive force most of the season. His pick-six against Nebraska is one sample of his play-making skills and he's always swarming to the ball. He can play against power-run teams and also spread offenses. Look for another big season. - Journal and Courier

rSr/2023

OLB Jalen Graham, Purdue
News Source: Journal and Courier
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08/01/22 - Broc Thompson, rSr/2024, Purdue + More +

David Bell and the 2,946 yards he accrued in three seasons at Purdue are gone. And for the first time since 2018, the Boilermakers do not have a wide receiver on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. But coach Jeff Brohm still likes the receivers surrounding quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who returns for a fourth season in 2022. Broc Thompson, who transferred from Marshall last offseason, caught seven passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns during Purdue's 48-45 win against Tennessee in last year's Music City Bowl. Thompson had surgery this offseason, but Brohm said the receiver is close to returning. - Lincoln Journal Star

rSr/2024

WR Broc Thompson, Purdue
News Source: Lincoln Journal Star
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07/29/22 - Reggie Love III, rSr/2025, Purdue + More +

Reggie Love III played in 10 of 12 games last fall backing up Chase Brown and Josh McCray at running back. Love ostensibly filled the third-string role with Jakari Norwood, but he wound up third on the team in rushing with 44 carries for 158 yards. The bulk of Love's playing time and production came early in the season with Brown battling an injury, and the St. Louis native rushed for almost half of his season total yardage in the first two games of the season against Nebraska and Texas San Antonio. Looking ahead to 2022: Illinois' running back depth chart really hasn't changed that much in a year's time. Brown and McCray are still far and away the top-two options. Norwood transferring to Temple leaves Love in competition with veteran back Chase Hayden, freshmen Aidan Laughery and Jordan Anderson and little-used Nick Fedanzo (save for special teams) for the No. 3 spot. Love, at least, should be the prohibitive favorite to grab those third-string carries. - News Gazette Tribune

rSr/2025

RB Reggie Love III, Purdue
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/28/22 - Mitchell Fineran, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

2022 PRESEASON LOU GROZA AWARD WATCH LIST: Mitchell Fineran - Purdue, Class: Senior - Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia,...Purdue's season ended on a high note thanks to Fineran, whose fourth field goal of the Music City Bowl was an overtime winner. It was his third 4-FG game in the team's final five contests, a run that started with his 4-for-4, 16-point performance in the Boilermakers' upset of then-undefeated Michigan State. - Lou Groza Award

rSr/2023

K Mitchell Fineran, Purdue
News Source: Lou Groza Award
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07/25/22 - Payne Durham, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

2022 PRESEASON JOHN MACKEY AWARD WATCH LIST: PAYNE DURHAM, PURDUE,...Durham had a breakout year in 2021, hauling in 45 receptions for 467 yards. The Suwanee, Georgia, native found the end zone six times, ranking second on the team in touchdown catches alongside consensus First Team All-American David Bell. Durham produced a pair of 100-yard games, kicking off the season with seven catches for 120 yards in a win over Oregon State. He snagged nine passes for 112 yards against Wisconsin before ending the campaign with 85 receiving yards in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. In the bowl game victory over Tennessee, Durham's memorable 62-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter featured several broken tackles as one of Purdue's best plays of the year. - Purdue Football

rSr/2023

TE Payne Durham, Purdue
News Source: Purdue Football
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07/25/22 - Gus Hartwig, rSr/2025, Purdue + More +

2022 PRESEASON RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCHLIST: Gus Hartwig, Purdue,...Hartwig has been tabbed Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in both of his seasons as a Boilermaker. The redshirt-sophomore started three of the team's six games in 2020, becoming the first true freshman to start on Purdue's offensive line since 2008. With one year under his belt, Hartwig started all 13 games at center a season ago. The Zionsville, Indiana, native helped the Boilermakers go 9-4 as Purdue became one of the best passing teams in college football. - Purdue Football

rSr/2025

C Gus Hartwig, Purdue
News Source: Purdue Football
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07/22/22 - Aidan OConnell, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

2022 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Aidan O'Connell, Purdue,...Heading into his sixth season after finally getting significant playing time as Purdue' quarterback in 2021 when Aiden O'Donnell was named All-Big Ten Second Team by league's coaches and media, Associated Press, Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele. Also named Academic All-Big Ten and received National Football Foundation Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award. Graduated with master's degree in May. Played 12 games with nine starts. Took over offense at halftime against Illinois (Sept. 25) and made first start of the season against Minnesota (Oct. 2).

Threw for 3,712 yards and 28 touchdowns with a passing efficiency of 158.8. Went 315-of-439 passing for a 71.8% completion percentage. Set Purdue single-season rankings - set the completion percentage record and passing efficiency, eighth in attempts, tied for fourth in completions, fifth in passing yards, fourth in touchdowns. Joined Drew Brees as the only Boilermakers with multiple 500-yard passing games in the same season. Went 40-of-54 for 536 yards and three scores against Michigan State (Nov. 6). Threw for 534 yards and five scores on 26-of-46 passing against Tennessee (Dec. 30). - Purdue Football

rSr/2023

QB Aidan OConnell, Purdue
News Source: Purdue Football
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07/20/22 - Aidan OConnell, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

2022 PRESEASON DAVEY O'BRIEN NATIONAL QUARTERBACK AWARD WATCH LIST: Aidan O'Connell, Purdue, Sr., 6-3, 210, Long Grove, Ill.,...O'Connell was one of the most accurate QBs in the entire country in 2021, completing 71.8 percent of his passes to set a new school record and rank fourth nationally. Despite splitting time at the start of the season, the Long Grove, Illinois, native threw for 3,712 yards (11th nationally) and 28 touchdowns (17th nationally). He produced six 300-yard games for the third-best in a single season and the most by a Boilermaker QB since Curtis Painter in 2007. O'Connell also completed 26.3 passes per game, good for sixth in national rankings. - Purdue Football

rSr/2023

QB Aidan OConnell, Purdue
News Source: Purdue Football
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07/11/22 - Sampson James, rJr/2024, Purdue + More +

Sampson James' career as a running back at Purdue is over before it started. James entered the NCAA transfer portal on Friday less than one year after coming to the Boilermakers from Indiana, the Journal & Courier has learned. James informed coach Jeff Brohm he was leaving the program on Friday. The former standout at Avon arrived at Purdue during training camp prior to the start of the 2021 season but the NCAA denied his waiver to play immediately. He practiced with the Boilermakers and entered spring practice as one of the top options at the running back position.

However, his participation in spring practice was spotty, leaving questions about his role on this year's team. James did play in the annual spring game in April. He appeared in 19 games for the Hoosiers in two seasons and rushed for 118 yards against the Boilermakers in 2019. James' departure leaves King Doerue, Dylan Downing and Kobe Lewis, a transfer from Central Michigan as the primary running backs heading into fall practices, which are scheduled to begin Aug. 4. - Journal and Courier

rJr/2024

RB Sampson James, Purdue
News Source: Journal and Courier
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07/08/22 - Aidan OConnell, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

The Boilermaker Alliance is up and running and the power brokers of the Name, Image and Likeness collective on Purdue's behalf move closer to starting the process of building a bankroll, which will eventually be passed along to the school's athletes. As co-founder Jeff McKean pointed out, those athletes receiving NIL payments will have to earn their paychecks in the form of doing charitable work. That could mean a special appearance by a football player at a non-profit event. It could mean a specified number of social media posts from a recognizable basketball player promoting a worthwhile cause. McKean's group will raise the funds necessary to allow this year's group of athletes to benefit financially from the new landscape of college athletics. But here's one question - what happens in Year 2?

Once money has been collected and distributed to athletes through the 2022-23 athletic year, where does the Boilermaker Alliance turn in the second year? How much more funds will be needed in the second year and beyond? Purdue has plenty of donors who could keep the Alliance's bank account filled for years, but how often will McKean and his group return to the same individual, family or business? "That's going to be the question at every institution that's entered into this," Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski told the Journal & Courier. "Right now, it's the shiny new object. Everybody is chasing the brass ring and I think the long-term viability and impact is yet to be determined. "I can't predict it with any certainty; I don't know but I do know it's not intended to be a one-year thing. This is meant to be a sustainable situation and that's why we're trying to structure ours in a way that provides that foundation for long-term sustainability instead of making a big splash right now and making a lot of headlines. That's not the way we were ever going to do this." - Journal and Courier

rSr/2023

QB Aidan OConnell, Purdue
News Source: Journal and Courier
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07/07/22 - Mani Powell, Jr/2026, Purdue + More +

A week before Mani Powell turned 19 on June 8, he had another reason to celebrate. Powell, a freshman linebacker at the University of Arkansas, received word on June 1 that he was fully cleared to participate in summer conditioning drills. Powell had spent the previous seven months recovering from surgery he underwent Oct. 21 on his left knee to repair damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. "It was lovely," Powell said of getting the word from Arkansas' training staff that his knee was strong enough to hold up to workouts. "I've been lifting weights, doing agility training, running, cutting, all of that stuff. "Since then, I've just been rolling."

Powell (6-2, 240) said he'll be ready when the Razorbacks begin preseason practice in August. An early enrollee in January, Powell did some individual drills last spring, but never got to do team work in pads. "I'm full go for fall camp," Powell said. "My knee is doing great. It's sore when I'm done with workouts, but that's part of being an athlete - being sore. "That soreness goes away and then I'm ready to get back to work." - Northwest Arkansas Times

Jr/2026

ILB Mani Powell, Purdue
News Source: Northwest Arkansas Times
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06/18/22 - Malachi Thomas, rJr/2026, Purdue + More +

Virginia Tech running backs coach Stu Holt had a pressing question for Malachi Thomas back in January. Holt scheduled Zoom sessions as a way to get to know his new players after leaving Louisville to join Brent Pry's staff. When Holt talked with Thomas, he wanted to know how the true freshman leapfrogged nine other running backs - including veterans like Raheem Blackshear and Jalen Holston - to get extended playing time at midseason. "It's a little bit coach speak to say experience doesn't matter," Holt said, in an interview with The Roanoke Times. "If you do have an older guy that has a feel for the game and the skill sets are pretty close, you do like having that experience, right? But if it's a younger guy, he's got to be a mature guy…Through that first conversation it was evident to me, that's how he got on the field." Thomas has maintained that mature approach in recent months to learn Tech's new playbook.

It helped him finish spring camp near the top of the depth chart with Pry referring to Thomas as Tech's most "consistent" running back in camp back in April. Holt agreed, but was also quick to praise Thomas' all-around skill set as well. "He's big, he's got great feet and is a really quick cut guy," Holt said. "He gets vertical very fast. He's got good vision. I think Malachi does a lot of good things. He's got good hands. He's smart. He's got a very good feel for the game, particularly being a young guy. He understands fronts and coverages. He's been impressive that way." Thomas ran for 440 yards (4.7 yards per carry) with three touchdowns last fall and had a pair of 100-yard performances. He was part of a rushing attack that finished No. 41 in the country last year with 185 yards per game. - Roanoke Times

rJr/2026

RB Malachi Thomas, Purdue
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/16/22 - Charlie Jones, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

Spring practice gave Aidan O'Connell and Iowa transfer Tyrone Tracy an opportunity to develop the important quarterback-receiver chemistry that should help Purdue's offense maintain a high level. However, Purdue coach Jeff Brohm has added another Hawkeye receiver transfer to the roster and O'Connell has a built-in history with Charlie Jones, who arrived on campus earlier this month and adds more depth to the position. O'Connell and Jones lived about 10 miles from each other in Illinois and played youth football and baseball together for six years starting in the third grade. O'Connell is from Long Grove, Ill., and Jones grew up in Deerfield. "In football, I basically threw it to him every play," said O'Connell, who attended Stevenson High School. "I know him well. He's a great friend and has already had a lot of success and hopefully, he brings that over here."

O'Connell also likes Jones' versatility to be used at different positions. He'll play a key role in Purdue's special teams since Jones was named Big Ten Returner of the Year last season, but O'Connell said don't be fooled by his statistics as a receiver. "I don't think he's gotten to show as much but he's a skilled receiver with a lot of speed, a lot of quickness and lateral quickness too. He's got great hands," said O'Connell, who will attend the Manning Passing Academy later this month. "Since he's been here, I've gotten to see how he handles himself, how much he watches film, studies the playbook, how he eats and all those things. He handles himself like a professional." - Journal and Courier

rSr/2023

WR Charlie Jones, Purdue
News Source: Journal and Courier
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06/04/22 - Charlie Jones, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

The line has formed for replacements at kickoff returner and punt returner for the Iowa football team. In an interview I had this week with Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods for this Sunday's Gazette and this website, Woods talked about who might replace Charlie Jones, the 2021 Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year. Jones is transferring to Purdue to reunite with fellow former Iowa wide receiver Tyrone Tracy for his super senior season.

As for the Hawkeyes..."You have Arland Bruce," said Woods, "who is a really good football player, not just a really good receiver. I think he's a great option. "I think that (defensive back) Connor DeJean is a really good option. I think there's a couple of young guys in Xavier Nwankpa and then also TJ Hall (freshmen defensive backs). "And then (defensive back) Terry Roberts is another guy. I think we have options." The mentioned players "have all expressed interest," Woods said. "And I can tell you that as soon as it became public that someone was leaving our roster, the Big Ten's Defensive Back of the Year (Riley Moss) - I got a text from him that said "Coach, I want to be the returner." Woods said candidates for the positions can use JUGS machines to catch footballs in summer workouts, "but the difficult thing comes when you have to catch it off the foot," which the players won't do until training camp starts in August. - The Gazette

rSr/2023

WR Charlie Jones, Purdue
News Source: The Gazette
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05/29/22 - Aidan OConnell, rSr/2023, Purdue + More +

Kickoff times have been released for Purdue Football's first six games of the season. The Sept. 1, a Thursday night, game at home against Penn State has been set for 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox. The Boilermakers' second game of the season, Sept. 10, against Indiana State has been set for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. Purdue's first away game, Sept. 17, against Syracuse will begin at noon and will be broadcast on ESPN 2. Homecoming, Sept. 24, against Florida Atlantic will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. The Boilermakers will travel to Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers on Oct. 1. The game will begin at noon. Purdue will look to beat Wisconsin for the first time since 2003 at Camp Randall. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22. - The Purdue Exponent

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