Portal QA DJ Wingfield
No position received a bigger influx of transfer portal talent this offseason than the offensive line. And one of the better big men imported was DJ Wingfield.
The 6-4, 289-pound New Mexico offensive lineman has one year of eligibility. Wingfield could play guard or tackle for the Boilermakers and is expected to compete for a starting spot. He had offers from Fresno State, Houston, UAB, Georgia Southern, UNLV, North Texas and Texas-San Antonio, among others.
A Hawthorne, Calif., native, who played at Redondo Union High, Wingfield began his career at El Camino Junior College in California, playing for two years before signing with New Mexico in the class of 2022. He played all 22 games over two seasons at El Camino.
Wingfield’s junior season was cut short in Albuquerque, as he tore an ACL just six plays into his first season with the Lobos. Wingfield played and started in nine games last season at right tackle. He posted a 73.1 PFF grade, including a 79.0 pass blocking grade while allowing just one sack on 316 pass blocking snaps for the Lobos in 2023.
Wingfield is one of four portal offensive linemen Purdue added in the offseason, joining Notre Dame’s Joey Tanona , Indiana’s Joshua Sales and Ball State’s Corey Stewart. Purdue also added Jaekwon Bouldin and Rod Green from the JC ranks, while signing four high school linemen.
Get to know Wingfield in this Q&A transcribed from a Boilermaker Alliance video interview.
MORE: CJ Smith | CJ Madden | Reggie Love | Joshua Sales | Jamarius Dinkins | Jahmal Edrine | Nyland Green | Cory Stewart | Purdue transfer portal tracker
Q: Why did you choose Purdue?
A: The reason I chose it is probably because (offensive line) Coach Marcus Johnson and Ryan Walters. Those guys, felt more comfortable with them when I came on my recruiting visit.
Q: What did you know about Purdue before coming here, and what was it like growing up in Los Angeles?
A: All I knew was Drew Brees, of course. And then growing up in LA, I used to go to the beach. I was just two miles from the beach.
Q: What city did you live in in Southern California?
A: Hawthorne.
Q: What is your skill-set?
A: I’m quick, powerful. And then I just love to play, love to move people.
Q: What position will you play?
A: I don’t know yet. Coach Johnson, he told me more of a tackle. But, we’ll see. I’ll play anywhere. In JUCO, I played all five positions. I can adapt.
Q: What was your JC experience like?
A: It was fun. My first year, I played guard. And then my second year, he moved me to tackle.
Q: Where is El Camino JC, where you played?
A: Torrance, California. About five minutes from where I live.
Q: Did you watch “Last Chance U.”
A: I did. I liked it. (My JC) wasn’t that crazy. “Last Chance U” was crazy. It was cool.
Q: What do you want to prove in West Lafayette?
A: I always have been underrated. I just want to prove I can play with some big-time schools.
Q: Are you ready to make the jump from New Mexico?
A: I’ve been ready.
Q: Are you excited to play schools like Notre Dame, Penn State, Oregon and Ohio State?
A: At the end of the day, it just comes down to ball. It just comes down to ball. If you got it, you go it. We gonna see.
Q: Do you have a nickname?
A: Not really. My real name is Dajaunye. But, since Pop Warner, everyone has been calling me DJ, so I just ran with it.
Q: How do you spend your free time?
A: I just play video games and just relax. The typical person.
Q: When relaxing, what do you like to eat?
A: My favorite foods is pizza. And wings, too. Watch some football or some basketball.
