Purdue hires former Minnesota defensive line coach Brick Haley

Purdue has hired Brick Haley as its new defensive line coach, per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. Haley spent 2022 with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and will join the Boilermakers in the same role.

Haley has been coaching college football since the 1990’s – minus a one year stint in the NFL with the Chicago Beats in 2008. Prior to coaching at Minnesota, he spent three seasons with new Purdue coach Ryan Walters at Missouri.

He’s had stints as defensive line coach at schools such as LSU, Texas, Mississippi State and Clemson. At Missouri, he was promoted after one season as the Tigers senior associate head coach. Throughout his career, Haley has coached 11 NFL Draft picks, including two first round selections.

Purdue receiver Deion Burks carried off on stretcher after scary injury

A scary situation occurred near the end of the Citrus Bowl between LSU and Purdue on Monday, as Boilermakers receiver Deion Burks suffered a head injury. Burks was down for several moments after his head hit the turf and was carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. 

The ABC broadcast showed Burks giving a thumbs up as the cart carried him away. Later, the broadcast also provided a positive update on the status of the injured Purdue receiver. 

“Just heard from Purdue and Burks has feeling and movement in all his extremities,” ESPN’s Kris Budden said. “So positive news coming out of that.”

The injury to Deion Burks occurred after his first and only catch of the contest, which went for four yards. Purdue ended up losing the game to the Tigers by a score of 63-7 to end its season with an 8-6 record.

Burks is a redshirt freshman receiver who was a three-star recruit in the 2021 class, as well as the No. 883 overall player according to On3 Consensus. This season he recorded 15 catches for 149 yards while also serving on special teams as a kick returner.