Pre-Spring FB depth chart: Offense
Ryan Walters will kick off his second spring practice on March 19, getting his first look at a roster that has welcomed 15 portal additions (one walk-on) and 13 early enrollees (11 freshmen and two JCs).
How will the influx of talent be worked in with a core of veterans for a Boilermaker program coming of a 4-8 season?
The Boilermakers will practice 15 times, with five practices on Tuesdays, five on Thursdays and four on Fridays. The spring game will be Saturday, April 13, at noon ET in Ross-Ade Stadium. The final practice will be April 18.
The Tuesday and Thursday practices will begin at 9 a.m. and include media availability. The Friday practices will start at 5 p.m and have no media availability.
All practices will be closed to the public.
Our best guess at a pre-spring depth chart for the offense.
OFFENSE
| First team | Second team |
| Pos. Name, Class | Pos. Name, Class |
| WR Jahmal Edrine, Jr. | Andrew Sowinski, 5th Sr. |
| WR Kam Brown, 6th | Jayden Dixon-Veal, Sr. |
| WR CJ Smith, So. | De’Nylon Morrissette, So. |
| TE Max Klare, So. | Drew Biber, Jr. |
| LT Corey Stewart, 5th Sr. | Bakyne Coly, Jr. |
| LG Mahamane Moussa, Jr. | Joey Tanona, So. |
| C Gus Hartwig, 5th Sr. | Jimmy Liston, RFr. |
| RG DJ Wingfield, 5th Sr. | Luke Griffin, 5th Sr. |
| RT Marcus Mbow, Jr. | Joshua Sales, Jr. |
| QB Hudson Card, 5th Sr. | Ryan Browne, RFr. |
| RB Devin Mockobee, Jr. | Reggie Love, 5th Sr. |
NOTES:
• LINE: No unit has undergone more flux with the arrival of four portal additions and two JC transfers. Corey Stewart (Ball State) may be the best of the bunch. DJ Wingfield (New Mexico) is good, too. Joey Tanona (Notre Dame) hasn’t played in two years (car accident). How will he look? Depth has been improved greatly, which should help if injuries strike like they did last season. Another thing improved: size. It’s hoped that will help when it comes to getting tough yards in short-yardage and red zone situations. C Gus Hartwig and T Marcus Mbow are the veteran bellwethers.
• RECEIVERS: Lots to prove for a unit that saw six scholarship wideouts enter the portal after the 2023 season, includuing Deion Burks (Oklahoma), T.J. Sheffield (Michigan State), Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (South Florida). Purdue countered by bringing in three portal additions. Keep an eye on CJ Smith (Georgia), who brings elite speed. UCLA’s Kam Brown will be a factor in the slot. Hopes are high for Jahmal Edrine (Florida Atlantic), who transferred last year but suffered a season-ending knee injury in camp. Could he be the alpha this unit needs? JC transfer Leland Smith will arrive in May.
• TIGHT ENDS: The duo of Max Klare and George Burhenn drips with potential. But Burhenn broke a foot in the winter; don’t expect much–if anything–from him this spring. Drew Biber will get plenty of action. He’s better than you think. There is plenty of talent to compensate for seeing Garrett Miller transfer to Texas A&M.
• RUNNING BACKS: Devin Mockobee is back to lead the unit for a third season. He battled through a fumbling issue last year. Reggie Love (Illinois) was imported to help replace do-everything Tyrone Tracy (pros) and Dylan Downing (Miami, Ohio, transfer). Staffers are excited about early arriving freshman Jaheim Merriweather. Is he the real deal? Merriweather will be given a chance to impress.
• QUARTERBACKS: Hudson Card needs to develop chemistry with his new targets as he gains more command and comfort in his second season. Card needs to take his game to another level, starting now. Who will be his caddy? Ryan Browne may have an edge over Bennett Meredith, as he flashed potential in extended duty at Northwestern last fall. Has Browne improved as a passer? Keep an eye on true freshman Marcos Davila, who has a big arm and a bright future. Could he be the 2025 starter?
