Purdue defensive coordinator Mike Scherer wants player-led defense to 'take control'

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Mike Scherer was plucked by Barry Odom to orchestrate the Purdue defense into a new era of Boilermaker football, preceded by the worst defense in program history.

Enter Scherer, the architect tasked with giving the Purdue defense a complete 180 in 2025. The rising talent in the coaching profession has built the unit to his liking, and now the players hold the keys to the Boilermakers’ success on the defensive side of the football.

“We got a lot of new guys that weren’t here in the spring. You look for leadership, for guys to step up, and really, just for the whole unit to take ownership. That is their group. You know, it’s not my group, it’s their group. So they got to take ownership of it and you’re starting to slowly see that,” Scherer said. “I want them to take control of it, and that’s where we’re going to improve, in the leadership and control. It’s their team. It’s their defense.”

No starters remain from last season’s defense, with the exception of defensive end CJ Madden, who played in only three games. The massive overhaul of the unit will usher in ten new starters on August 30th, when the Boilermakers take on Ball State in Ross-Ade Stadium.

Purdue led the FBS ranks in transfer portal additions this off-season and, particularly on the defensive side, put a premium on veteran talent that could come in and compete right away. The secondary saw eight seniors enter the mix, including cornerback Tony Grimes, safeties Tahj Ra-El, An’Darius Coffey, Crew Wakley and Myles Slusher, who are all expected to be key cogs on the back end of the Purdue defense. A veteran-laden secondary has helped fast track the unit, as well as countless player-led sessions to learn the playbook and their assignments.

“We’re ahead of the curve, because the guys, they have experience and know how to act and how to carry themselves in a college program and how to practice. But we’re ahead because throughout the last few months, several times a week, these guys get together. I have nothing to do with it. They get together and they go through the plays themselves. Put a big, big onus on them, it’s their team, they play the game, it’s their defense,” Scherer said. “God knows how many times they’re out here on this field, going through the plays this summer, just them alone.”

Another senior transfer, linebacker Mani Powell, has been a catalyst for building camaraderie and cohesion amongst the linebackers. Powell has a white board at his house that he uses to go over assignments with teammates, living up to his leadership role in the middle of the Purdue defense. The linebacker spot is one Scherer holds in high regard.

“I got a special pride for the linebacker room, and I’ll make sure those guys are extremely tight. So obviously, having the experience we have together, Mani, Charles (Correa) and I over the years, there’s an extra added benefit to that,” Scherer said.

“We just talk through our assignments, you know, make sure that we all on the same page. And again, just like on the field, me and Charlie (Correa) be talking. I mean, it’s a continuous conversation, just trying to figure out how we could get on the same page and how we can move faster,” Powell said.

As the Boilermakers look to build a player-lead culture defensively, Scherer spoke to how he expects to be there for his players on game days. Barry Odom shared on Thursday that Scherer would be on the field during games, as opposed to in the box, and the Purdue defensive coordinator shed some light on why he is more comfortable on the sidelines.

“You can feel the emotion, you can make adjustments when you need to right away.”

“I gotta be there, and they gotta see me, and I gotta see them. They gotta see that, hopefully me calling the plays, I’m standing there, and it’s like, ‘Guys, we’re okay, we’re fine. We’re gonna change this, change that, and ain’t gonna happen again, right?’ They can see me and then they can have confidence to go back out there and play ball,” Scherer said.

Purdue’s defense has had the upper hand against Josh Henson’s offense for the better part of the first seven practices this fall, although there has been some back-and-forth thus far. Scherer shared that his unit still has a long way to go, and much more to discover about themselves, with the first scrimmage of camp looming on Saturday.

“We’re coming along. We look for effort and want to and desire, just playing hard right now. We haven’t had a scrimmage yet, so in terms of that, we’ve come a long way from where we started. We still have a long way to go. This team’s got to be the hardest playing team that there is, and that’s how we’re gonna be successful,” Scherer said.

Saturday will provide Scherer and staff with the opportunity to see their players in a game setting, many for the first time. Observing how players respond to adversity could offer more clarity at several positions and show the staff who is ready for the opportunity to shine under the bright lights… or not.

“I know from being in these situations, especially scrimmage one of fall camp. Man, in some of these player’s minds, it’s game day coming up,” Scherer said. “It gives you a whole new set of emotions for the players and a new set of things that you can evaluate, that it’s going to be the same as it is in game week, right? You got practice, but come Saturday lights come on. We want to know how you’re gonna play. So it’s a lot about that when it comes to scrimmage time.”

The scrimmage will be held on Saturday morning in Ross-Ade Stadium, the first of three scheduled for the Boilermakers this fall.