Old National Presents: The 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 what’s going on with Purdue football.

Three things learned

1 – Tyrone Tracy poised to be drafted

The Boilermaker running back impressed in the Hula and East-West Shrine games in January. He then turned heads at the Combine, registering one of the top efforts at his position. Tracy capped his post-college tour by performing well at Purdue’s pro day last week. He cranked out 20 reps at 225 on the bench and performed well in drill work for scouts from 31 of 32 NFL teams.

How high could Tracy be picked? Maybe as high as the third or fourth round. The only thing perhaps working against him is the fact he’s 24 years old. But, he has lots of tread on his tire as a running back after playing wideout his first five seasons.

2 – Big Ten, SEC flexing muscles

According to Ross Dellinger of Yahoo Sports, the College Football Playoff is moving toward a new format and revenue model that skews toward the new Power Two of college athletics–Big Ten, SEC–creating a more formal delineation between that tandem and the ACC-Big 12.

In the past structure, the five major conferences mostly split 80 percent of the CFP’s $460 million in revenue. In a proposal revealed this week, the Big Ten and SEC would combine to earn about 58 percent of the CFP’s base distribution, a figure which would greatly exceed the ACC and Big 12’s combined distribution number, which is expected to be around 31 percent. The remaining amount (roughly 10 percent) will be distributed to Notre Dame and the 64 Group of Five teams.

Negotiations continue. Would the Big Ten and SEC really leave to do their own thing if they don’t get terms they desire?

All of this on top of the SEC/Big Ten angling for three automatic qualifiers each year in a proposed 14-team playoff.

This real-life drama is fascinating to follow.

3 – Purdue’s off-field staff takes shape

On Monday, it was reported Purdue will hire Miami (Ohio) RB coach Jason Simmons as an analyst. He will work with receivers, filling a void created when analyst Josh Miller took a job coaching tight ends at Marshall to work with ex-Purdue tight ends coach Seth Doege–now Marshall OC.

The move is expected to augment the Boilermakers’ in-state recruiting efforts, as Simmons coached in the prep ranks in Indiana for 23 years prior to going to Miami in 2023.

Miller will be missed. He was well thought of, an analyst with good ideas who also had play-calling experience.

Earlier, the program hired AJ Van Valkenburgh to be head football athletic trainer. He replaces Alyse King, who held the job for one season after arriving from Wake Forest. Van Valkenburgh will be Purdue’s third football trainer in three years. Ryan Collins held the post before King.

Purdue hired Jenna Thompson from Minnesota as director of on-campus recruiting to replace Semi Bowden. And Jonathan Harrison was tabbed as assistant director of football operations (a new position) to assist Pete Roley. Harrison was director of football operations at St. Francis (Pa.).

Two questions

1 – Any Boilermakers besides Tracy picked in NFL draft?

The Purdue player with the best shot is S Sanoussi Kane. The 6-0, 215-pound Kane ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at pro day and also had a 36.5 vertical, 10.8 broad jump, 4.32 20-yard shuttle, 7.09 shuttle and did 12 reps on the bench. Plus, Kane is a captain with leadership skills.

Maybe he can find his way onto a roster and forge a special teams role as a late-round pick. Still, Kane likely will be a free-agent.

2 – Most surprising number from pro day?

P Jack Ansell did 18 reps on the bench at 225 pounds. That was only one fewer than OT Daniel Johnson and was more than Kane (12) and S Cam Allen (15).

Was Ansell the strongest punter in America last year? Pat McAfee has to be impressed, right?

Ansell not only was strong, but he was one tough hombre, too.

One bold statement: Kydran Jenkins will start at ILB

Look for the one-time rush end/outside linebacker to be the No. 1 inside linebacker when spring drills start on March 19.

Kydran Jenkins is thought to be an upgrade at the spot, bringing increased athletic ability to the position. And it’s thought the best path to the NFL for the 6-1 Jenkins is at linebacker. Bottom line: The guy just makes plays. Last season, Jenkins was No. 3 in the Big Ten in TFLs with 15.5 and No. 3 in sacks with 7.5.

And–even with Nic Scourton having transferred to Texas A&M–Purdue feels it can afford to move Jenkins since it has a raft of promising rush ends led by Will Heldt and three transfers: CJ Madden, Shitta Sillah and Jireh Ojata.