Recruiting News and Notes

Here is our Express weekly information clearinghouse, a spot for assorted bits of Purdue news, analysis, and so on and so forth. Please do your best to keep proprietary info shared here within the confines of this site.

PURDUE FOOTBALL​

• NFL scouts have been matriculating through training camp. Who are they looking at? Scouts are trying to get a base start on who they need to focus on to start the season and then adjust as guys emerge throughout the season.

Obviously, they are just looking at seniors right now who may be starters. Some of the top Purdue guys thought to being watched:

LB Mani Powell
CB Tony Grimes
RB Devin Mockobee
OL Jalen “Chop” St. John,
S Myles Slusher
S An’Darius Coffey
S Tahj Ra-El
S Crew Wakley
WR Michael Jackson
WR E.J. Horton

The list will adjust depending on who plays and shows potential and who doesn’t.

• It does not sound like there any plans to change or tweak football uniforms in 2025.

• In case you missed it … the old football radio show is over as is the post-game call-in show, as Purdue is transitioning to a podcast format this season.

It will be called “For Pete’s Sake” and will be hosted by Rob Blackman and Joey Mulinaro.

For Pete’s Sake will be available on the new Purdue Sports app, PurdueSports.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

The school did The Ryan Walters Show live from Walk-On’s restaurant in the Union the last two seasons. (TD)

PURDUE FOOTBALL RECRUITING​

As Purdue ramps up toward the season opener on August 30th, game day visits are beginning to be booked for top targets of the Boilermakers. That list includes a quartet of quarterbacks early in the year.

Starting with a pair of rising 2028 signal callers, Center Grove (Ind.) QB Oscar Sloan and Oak Creek (Wisc.) gunslinger JJ Chapman will both be in West Lafayette for the Boilermakers’ week one battle with Ball State. Both sophomores earned offers from quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw this off-season and are two of the top names on the board for the class. That is subject to change, but Hinshaw and company are getting an early start on the quarterback position in the current sophomore class.

The top name to watch, as far as visitors are concerned, on August 30th is 2027 four-star Montini Catholic (Ill.) quarterback Israel Abrams. The 95th ranked player overall and 6th-ranked quarterback in the 2027 class will start his busy fall visit slate with a trip to West Lafayette. Abrams was on campus in June and enjoyed his visit, while eyeing a potential fit into Purdue’s offense.

“I think it’s close to the offense that I run at my school right now, like a pro-style type of offense, so it definitely fits my style of play,” Abrams said. “I definitely think I’d fit the playbook well.”

The dual-threat signal caller fits the mold of what Purdue has been looking for in its quarterback recruits and says that he is familiar with many of the concepts that the Boilermakers will utilize under offensive coordinator Josh Henson. He threw for 2,033 yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding over 300 yards on the ground. The 6-foot-4 Abrams has already cemented himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country and is fresh off a state championship as a sophomore.

Abrams is perhaps the top target of the Purdue staff for 2027 quarterbacks, with Kamden Lopati, Ben Musser and Teddy Jarrard off the board.

The Boilermakers still have several other targets, as well, with Daniel Mielke, Champ Smith, and Jake Nawrot as quarterbacks with offers in hand. Mielke, Smith and Nawrot all visited over the summer and could make their way back to campus this fall. Nawrot is expected to visit for Purdue’s week two matchup against Southern Illinois. (DJ)

PURDUE BASKETBALL​

• As you know, summer practie is over and it’s now discretionary time for players before the fall semester starts, except Omer Mayer and Oscar Cluff, who remain here for a mini-camp of sorts with coaches, getting their full eight weeks of summer work in. Preseason practice starts Sept. 24, but there will be a few weeks of fall workouts prior.

• Purdue will get an international exhibition trip next year at a good time, as the roster will turn over quite a bit. It may not be overseas, though. Canada is in play from what we understand. (BN)

PURDUE BASKETBALL RECRUITING​

Purdue just offered 7-footer Sinan Huan from China/prep school and already has him booked for a Sept. 5 official visit. Huan is an uncommonly mobile center who reminds of Matt Haarms on defense, at least. From what we’ve seen of him in person, the offense is a work in progress, but he’s a fluid guy who can at least catch and dunk. The SEC is all over him, as he is a classic run-and-jump SEC big man.

Huan is another example of the obvious cachet Purdue has with bigs these days. The Boilermakers did have an official on the books with Ethan Taylor before he chopped them from his final list. Cam Williams is coming in September, though he is more of a 4 man. Arafan Diane should make an official visit, too. Whether Purdue can get any of these guys, we’ll see, but they are interested. Purdue already had Italian Luigi Suiogo for a visit. We’ll see if they even stay involved there.

Purdue should have Daniel Jacobsen back in 2026, but Oscar Cluff will be gone. They’ll need somebody, unless an anticipated redshirt year turns Raleigh Burgess into more of a 5 man. Even if, though. Purdue may need another portal addition. But that’s a long way off.

They do have a great chance at Isaiah Hillin 2027 and may not want to overload that position with bodies, but looking at just next season, Purdue is probably gonna need somebody.

• Purdue has Jacob Webber coming later this month, just as Tennessee goes to adidas, which is going to be pouring money into players. Webber played on the adidas circuit and adidas has been sponsoring players during their high school and college careers. Everyone involved would say it has nothing to do with recruiting, but the numbers that will be on the table for Tay Kinney and Louisville and maybe Anthony Thompson and Indiana are going to be eye-popping. Does Webber get such treatment for Tennessee? That he’s now ranked where he’s ranked is reason to think maybe. (Dudes like this have been getting paid by shoe companies for years; it’s just more out in the open now.)

• Luke Ertel’s official visit is set for USC weekend. Stands to reason Purdue try to bring in others that weekend, also. (BN)