Old National Presents: 3-2-1 of Purdue football
Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s time for the 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football.
Three things learned
1 – NFL kicking Tracy’s tires
RB Tyrone Tracy got the attention of NFL scouts at the Combine and during Purdue’s Pro Day. And the research on Tracy has continued.
He already has had confabs with the Giants, Commanders, Jets, Patriots and Colts. Tracy has upcoming Zoom meetings with the Cardinals and Chiefs. Washington will fly in Tracy for a meeting in April. And he’ll take part in the Colts local pro day on April 8. Gonna be interesting to what round Tracy is selected. Probably a third-day guy.
Also of note: S Sanoussi Kane has talked with the Ravens and Colts; he’ll also do local pro days with the Jets and Giants. He’s probably the only other Boiler with a shot to be picked in the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25-27 in Detroit.
2 – We have visitors … and offers
This is a “quiet period” when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts on campus. And, the recruits already have started to parade in.
Thursday saw six visitors. Two of those already held offers: 2025 DE Caleb Smith of Birmingham (Ala.) Parker and 2026 ILB Ja’Kobe Clapper of Cincinnati St. Xavier. One other earned an offer during the visit: 2025 WR Lebron Hill of Hammond (Ind.) Morton Senior.
And a bus load of recruits from Michigan swung by on Saturday, when more offers were doled out: 2026 ILB Isaiah Harris of Saline (Mich.) High; 2026 TE/LB Lincoln Watkins of Port Huron (Mich.) Northern; 2026 TE Lincoln Keyes of Saline (Mich.) High; 2026 S Marcello Vitti of Detroit Divine Child.
Fridays will be big days for visits. This coming Friday is no different. Stay tuned.
This is just the beginning before recruiting hits full-stride during June camps.
3 – So young, so good
He’s just a true sophomore. And S Dillon Thieneman already has his visage hanging alongside other Purdue immortals inside Mollenkopf Athletic Center.
A banner was unfurled on Tuesday during the first spring practice, much to the surprise of Thieneman who earned the honor by being a consensus freshman All-American in 2024.
“I was super surprised,” said Thieneman. “They didn’t tell me anything. (Coach Ryan Walters) brought me up and started saying some things. I look over and my parents walk in and I was like, ‘What? What’s going on?’ “
How good is Thieneman gonna be?
Two questions
1 – Questions, questions, questions
Unknowns pepper the special teams for coach Chris Petrilli. Who will kick field goals? Kick off? Punt? Long snap? Hold? Run back punts? Run back kickoffs? On and on the queries go.
The current situation: Purdue has K Ben Freehill this spring, along with snapper Daniel Hawthorne. The only punter: Bennett Boehnlein. A few other walk-ons are on hand.
Questions won’t start to be answered until kickers Spencer Porath (true freshman) and RJ Lopez (UCLA transfer) show up this summer. And, a punter–maybe two–will come aboard then, as well. Along with a scholarship long snapper.
The return game won’t be sorted out until fall camp.
2 – What type of a QB does Purdue prefer?
Purdue has shown it likes big signal-callers (true freshman Marcos Davila is 6-3, 230). And, the staff has taken a commitment from a small quarterback, too: 2025 Sawyer Anderson (5-11, 180).
Is there a QB template for Purdue? Not really. The staff doesn’t need a runner at quarterback, but it would like a signal-caller with some athletic ability and mobility. Of course, being able to “spin” the ball is a requisite requirement.
Davila is mobile, according to program watchers. And Anderson has nifty wheels.
One bold statement: WR CJ Smith is real deal
That’s the sentiment that’s buzzing from spring drills early on. The Georgia transfer began to turn head in winter workouts.
The 6-3 CJ Smith is a blazer who can take the top off defenses, considered a better playmaker than Deion Burks, who departed for Oklahoma via the portal.
Looks like Purdue may have something special in Smith.
