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Gold and Black Radio: Purdue's football portal haul slowing down

by: Derek Schultz05/13/25
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Purdue’s spring portal haul, nationally recognized by On3.com as one of the most productive, is finally winding down. GoldandBlack.com football expert Tom Dienhart talks about the recent additions, what it means for coach Barry Odom’s inaugural season and more with host Derek Schultz in our May 13, 2025 edition.

Audio

Purdue Football chat

Q: Best guess at the starting secondary?
-SactusGrow
A: Tough question with so many new pieces in the back end. Purdue’s base defense will be a 4-2-5. Here is my best guess on the secondary: CB Hudauri Hines, CB Tony Grimes, NB Stu Smith, S  An’Darius Coffey, S Tahj Ra-El. I feel pretty good about Hines and Grimes at corner. The safeties? I really am not sure. There are so many new faces. The competition will be good. Six have been added since the end of 2024: An’Darius Coffey (Northwestern), Mar’Ques “Hershey” McLaurin (Houston), Tahj Ra-El (Memphis), Myles Slusher (Colorado), Richard Toney (TCU), Crew Wakley (BYU).

Q: How many wins if we get Illinois Ryan Browne all year??
-KHC GOAT
A: He was pretty good that day, huh? Purdue could go 6-6 with that Ryan Browne. He threw for 297 and 3 TDs and ran for 118 in a 50-49 OT loss.

Q: If you had to bet on Run vs. Pass, do you think you’d go over or under if the line was set at 60% run?
-RRannry1
A: I am gonna say over. I just think Barry Odom wants to be physical, establish the run, punish teams, control the ball and the clock. He has assembled a big offensive line that looks like it could lean on defenses and wear them down. Plus, why not rely on the one prove commodity on offense: Devin Mockobee? I would. Wear him out.

Q: Over/Under: 1,300 yards from scrimmage for Mockobee this year?
-Ceon Foosheys

A: Over. As I mentioned above, I think Mockobee will be the centerpiece of the offense, the fulcrum of what Odom wants to do with a punch-you-in-the-nose offense. He’ll run for close to 1,000 yards and catch for over 300. Mockobee is a nice pass catcher, with 68 career receptions. He had 32 back in 2002.

Q: Who would you say is Purdue’s best pass rusher at this juncture? Anyone you’ll be keeping your eye on when practice activities pick back up?
-Boilerup2389
A: Another good query. My money is on CJ Madden, the Georgia transfer from 2024 who played just three games last year because of injury. I think he is all torqued up and ready to shine. And keep an eye on Michigan transfer Breeon Ismail, a smooth operator off the edge. Is Trey Smith ready to shine? Other portal edge rushers brought in: Breylon Charles (North Texas), Miles Mitchell(Monmouth), CJ Nunnally (Akron), Elijah St. John (Long Island University).

Q: How on earth are you able to keep track of all the portal in and outs?!?!
-Charlespig
A: Two things:

  1. Monster energy drinks
  2. Playing Accept’s album: Balls to the Wall.

Q: How many night games do you see on the schedule this fall? Home and Away
-jhuffer10
A: I am gonna say two: one home (USC) and one road (at Minnesota).





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