Deep Dive: March 21
It’s informative, it’s analytical, it’s fun … it’s the Deep Dive, a look at Purdue’s second spring practice. Just the first four periods were open, so not much access.
1 – Just one visitor today: Edina (Minn.) High 2026 QB Mason West, a strapping 6-6 signal-caller. Not sure of Purdue’s level of interest in West.
2 – The “star” spot is a combo safety/corner. Purdue has three battling at the position: Kyndrich Breedlove, Markevious Brown and Salim Turner-Muhammad.
3 – The staff from Whiteland (Ind.) High was on hand to watch practice.
4 – Purdue’s special teams have many unknowns. One: Who will be the holder? Have seen P Bennett Boehnlein be the No. 1 man thus far. Purdue also needs a long-snapper. Daniel Hawthorne (Missouri transfer in 2023) is working out, but the staff is expected to add another long-snapper via the portal. In an ideal world, Purdue would have three long-snappers. One will be on scholarship. Count on that.
5 – Ben Freehill is the lone proven kicker on campus. Walk-on Iain Ramage also is working out. He earned a roster spot during a special teams camp last June. Purdue also has walk-on K Ayden Fahey. Expect freshman K Spencer Porath to be given every opportunity to handle placements in 2024; he’s set to arrive in May/June on a full-ride scholarship, earning an offer in Purdue’s special teams camp last June. He’ll be one of the most touted kickers to come to Purdue in years. And RJ Lopez also is arriving later this spring from UCLA. He’s expected to handle kickoffs. Can Freehill find a role? The sixth-year senior says he’s healthy after dealing with injury in 2023.
6 – Punting? Jack Ansell is gone a year early. Purdue will be adding a scholarship punter later this spring. That person figures to have the job in the fall. Heck, Purdue may add two punters. Boehnlein is the lone punter here now. Special teams boss Chris Petrilli took a junket to Australia this winter in search of talent.
7 – No access for Friday’s 5 p.m. practice, but here’s a preview of recruits expected to be on hand in bucolic West Lafayette:
2024 DL Caleb Mitchell-Irving (signee), DeSoto (Texas) Parish Episcopal
2025 DE Caleb Smith, Birmingham (Ala.) Parker
2025 OLB Uchenyo Ojata, Carmel (Ind.). He is the brother of rush end Jireh Ojata, who just transferred to Purdue from Franklin College.
2025 TE Brian Kortovich, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph
2025 WR Lebron Hill, Hammond (Ind.) Morton Senior
2026 DB Omar Williams Jr., Lafayette (Ind.) Jeff
2026 ILB Ja’Kobe Clapper, Cincinnati St. Xavier
Smith and Clapper have Purdue offers; Kortovich and Hill likely will earn offers from Purdue.
8 – Saw C Austin “Salsa” Johnson in a sling at Pro Day last week. Jimmy Liston has been the No. 2 center behind Gus Hartwig so far.
9 – Who will return kicks? Check back later. Lots to sort through. A guy who could be a key return man is not on campus yet: true freshman Koy Beasley.
10 – Not only is S Dillon Thieneman a standout defender, but he doubles as one of the team’s top players in punt coverage. Who is considered the team’s top overall coverage man? CB Botros Alisandro.
2026 QB Mason White, Edina, Minn.
