Old National Presents: The 3-2-1 of Purdue football
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Three things learned. Two questions. One prediction. It’s the 3-2-1, a look at what’s happening with Purdue football.
Three things learned
1 – Can-do attitude
All eyes have been on the basketball team’s march in the NCAA tournament, and rightly so. The success of Matt Painter’s squad has served as motivation to Ryan Walters.
“I think the momentum is awesome (for the athletic department),” said Walters. “It just shows you what kind of potential Purdue has from an athletic standpoint.
“From our perspective, if basketball can do it, why can’t we do it?”
Gotta like Walters’ infatigable attitude. The program needs his energy, bounce and mojo as the Big Ten wades into a new 18-team era. He’s a bright young mind who is undaunted.
2 – Keep an eye K.J.
Yes, Kydran Jenkins will be Purdue’s No. 1 inside linebacker, moving from his familiar rush end spot. Jenkins will go from being an undersized edge player (6-1, 260) to being a jumbo inside linebacker, a spot he may be able to play in the NFL.
But, make no mistake about it: On passing downs, Jenkins often will assume his old spot on the edge and go get the quarterback. He was No. 3 in the Big Ten in sacks in 2023 (7.5).
The move to ILB allows Jenkins to be closer to the ball, and hopefully impact more plays. And it also allows Purdue to get its best players on the field, the goal of every coach.
3 – It’s spring game week
If you can believe it, Purdue will hold its spring game on Saturday at noon in Ross-Ade Stadium, which was unavailable last spring as it was undergoing renovations. (If a game would have been held in 2023, it was going to take place at the Folk Field.)
Walters didn’t hold a spring game his first season, as roster numbers were too low.
What will we see from the new wideouts on Saturday? How will the bigger and deeper offensive line look? Are the new cornerbacks standing out? What will we see from special teams? The questions go on and on as the Boilermakers take another step in trying to flip the script on last year’s 4-8 season.
FYI: Purdue will practice two more times after its spring game: April 16 and April 18.
Two questions
1 – Does Purdue have enough juice at running back?
Purdue has a good tandem with Devin Mockobee and Illinois transfer Reggie Love. But, after that for a unit that lost Tyrone Tracy and Dylan Downing? There are redshirt freshman Christian Womack (who has been hurt) and promising true freshman Jaheim Merriweather. Redshirt freshman walk-on Elijah Jackson has been a pleasant surprise.
Is that enough?
2 – How good is Corey Stewart?
It would not be a shock if Corey Stewart is Purdue’s starting left offensive tackle, the marquee spot on a line. The Ball State transfer has been all that and a bag of chips since arriving in January, running with the first team this spring.
It’s not a surprise, as Stewart was an All-MAC player who was has continued to blossom since being overlooked coming out of high school in Nashville, where he focused on basketball most of his youth.
And keep an eye on New Mexico transfer D.J. Winfield, who may have an inside track to start at right guard.
One bold statement: Buy stock in rush end Will Heldt
Keep an eye on Will Heldt. The Carmel, Ind., native got his feet as a true freshman last year, when he played in all 12 games and made 12 stops with a TFL.
He’ll be penciled in to start at one of Purdue’s two rush end spots this fall as the Boilermakers look to replace Jenkins (now an ILB) and Nic Scourton, who transferred to Texas A&M after he led the Big Ten with 10.0 sacks in 2023.
The 6-6, 250-pound Heldt continues to fill out, already looking NFL-ready. He could be the guy who leads the charge to replace the production of Scourton and Jenkins off the edge.
