Potential turning into production for Purdue's Nitro Tuggle

From the minute Nitro Tuggle announced his commitment to Purdue out of the transfer portal, eyes got wide, minds were filled with possibilities and Purdue fans were bubbling over with excitement. The anticipation for Tuggle to step onto the field as a Boilermaker was through the roof.

It’s not often a player with that type of talent lands in West Lafayette.

Tuggle was a consensus four-star recruit in the class of 2024, having his chance of attending just about anywhere he wanted after starring for Northwood (Ind.). That choice led him to Athens to join Georgia to begin his collegiate career. After suiting up in eight games for the Bulldogs as a true freshman, Tuggle entered the transfer portal with his sights set on returning back to the Midwest.

That’s when a homecoming of sorts presented itself in the form of Cornell Ford, Barry Odom and the Boilermakers.

“Just family, just people surrounding this place, like Coach Odom,” Tuggle said. “I just thought it was a great program, great coaches. You know, they did a lot at UNLV, so why not come back home?”

Expectations were sky high for the SEC import, and for good reason. Tuggle oozes with potential and for a receiving corps that was marred by question marks heading into the season, the rising sophomore was the potential number one option in Josh Henson’s offense.

The takeoff wasn’t as quick as some may have hoped. Harnessing the star receiver potential was up to the Purdue coaching staff and Tuggle himself, which he has begun to show as he’s accumulated more time on the field with the Boilermakers. Those improvements can be traced back to consistency in practice.

“Early on in fall camp, you would see glimpses, and then he would disappear for a little bit. He’s been much more consistent. Love the way that he’s continuing to practice. He’s playing well when the ball is not in his hands, blocking on the perimeter, doing some of those things that we asked those guys to do. I think he’s got a tremendous future for us,” Odom said.

Over his last two outings, Tuggle has hauled in five passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, including four catches for 69 yards and a score in Purdue’s loss to USC on Saturday night. It’s what Tuggle has become accustomed to during practice, but now he is starting to showcase his skillset in games.

“Yeah, production wise, I feel like I’ve kind of always done that in practice. You know, it was like, same thing. I did it in practice, so make the game a little easier,” Tuggle said.

For a young receiver, who is among the most talented on the entire roster, continuing to make strides is an integral part in his development.

“I think you start to see him making plays on game day, because he’s practicing better. And, you know, I know that is such boring talk, but I will always believe you’re going to play exactly how you practice,” Odom said.

“Just getting better every day at little things. He’s obviously physically gifted, he’s strong. He can play against press, and he can get off press, and he’s doing it better and better every day. And so he’s a young guy that’s learning the game, but we have a really bright outlook on his future,” Henson said.

Purdue will need Tuggle and the rest of its receivers to build on last week’s performance against USC, which saw fellow pass catchers Michael Jackson and EJ Horton amass 70 yards apiece, when it faces off against a hungry Notre Dame team this weekend in South Bend.

“The secondary, they are what they’ve been. They’ve got a really good corner. They’ve got some other really good DBs that are good at man coverage, and they’re going to challenge you by getting up in your face in man to man and force you to get off man coverage to complete the ball and win routes,” offensive coordinator Josh Henson said of the Fighting Irish defense.

Tuggle is just scratching the surface of what his potential could lead to. The go-to receiver for Ryan Browne? An All-Big Ten type of performer? A future at the next level? The possibilities are both exciting and endless for the former in-state recruit that made his way back home this off-season.

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