Deep Dive: Practice No. 13

It’s informative, it’s analytical, it’s opinionated, it’s the Deep Dive, a look at today’s football practice.

• Perfect morning for football in West Lafayette for a snappy 90-minute or so practice. (Where’s my NERF football?) This practice was conducted like a Thursday practice will be operated during the season.

• The only key player in a green no-contact penny today was OL John Randle. DL Caleb Irving was working with injured players to the side.

• Purdue had its helmets all “stickered up” and ready for Saturday’s Showcase. Looked sharp. But, I still prefer gold lids.

• The squad spent a lot of time working on special teams. I will say this: K Spencer Porath has a strong leg. And he hit a clutch 45-yard field goal during one end-of-game scenario.

• The top three wideouts: Charles Ross, Arhmad Branch, De’Nylon Morrissette. If Chauncey Magwood was healthy, he’d be in that group instead of Branch.

MORE: Gallery spring practice No. 13

• Neat moment at the end of practice when OL Ethan Trent was put on scholarship by Barry Odom. Trent is a well-respected part of the program, a team-first guy who is beloved. And, Trent is also pretty good.

Trent has been with the first-team offensive line at right guard the last few weeks of spring ball with Mason Vicari dealing with an injury. Vicari was full-go today, and Trent was still with the first-team. He also can play center, running with the No. 2 line at that spot earlier this spring. Bottom line: Trent will play a key role on Purdue’s o-line in 2025.

Coming out of tony Carmel (Ind.) High, Trent originally committed to Indiana State before matriculating to Purdue as a walk-on. Of course, he is the younger brother of beloved Purdue super fan Tyler Trent.

• DE CJ Nunnally has really benefitted from the enhanced nutritional options at Purdue after transferring from Akron in the offseason. How much so? He says he arrived in West Lafayette weighing 233 and now tips the scales at a robust 262.

• Nunnally, who hails from Georgia, has had a peripatetic career that has taken him from (deep breath) Jackson State (2021), Independence (Kansas) CC (2022 ), Akron (2023-24) and now Purdue. At Jackson State, Nunnally played for Deion Sanders.

“He’s be patrolling around on this golf cart, because he has the issue with his toes,” said Nunnally. “But it was kind of funny just seeing him on his little tricycle thing. He’s still yelling at boys, trying to coach up everyone. You know it affected him but it didn’t stop him from coaching and being the same guy that he was.”

MORE: Spring football content portal

• How often is DE coach Jake Trump asked if he is related to the POTUS? A lot, he said–smiling. A lot. What’s his response: “Not that I know of.”

• The DE room is dominated by vets, but one youngster has Trump excited: true freshman Landon Brooks, whose 6-6, 243-pound frame parallels that of Raiders’ star DE Maxx Crosby. I’m not saying Brooks will be Crosby, but he’s built like him. Eager to see what Brooks’ body looks like in another year.

“He’s multiple,” said Trump. “One thing about Landon, yes, he’s got the frame, he’s got the body type, he’s put on about 20 pounds, and he’ll continue to get stronger this summer. This offseason will be really big for him. This summer, specifically, will be really big for him.

“But, you talk about a kid who is intentional with his approach. We talk about, hey, you got to see the near hand. Hey, you got to play behind your hand. And you’ll see him come out the next day, and that is what he’s doing, almost to where every guy in the room is seeing what he’s doing. And, to be honest, that’s what you hope to get in the kid, a guy that is willing to want to get better every day, take the coaching. … “

• A film crew was on hand to shoot a shot of the team gathering for a post-practice huddle. The clip will be part of a Purdue commercial that runs in 2025-26.

• Purdue is working TE Luke Klare, Max’s younger brother, at long snapper.

• It was nice to hear Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” played over the loud speakers during practice. It took me back to high school over at West Lafayette.

• Purdue will be back on the field tomorrow. Then, everything finishes up on Saturday. What players will we be seeing for the last time with the portal opening April 16-25?

Earned it every single day.@EthanTrent05 is now on scholarship! 🚂⬆ pic.twitter.com/laZA1YcG6c

— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) April 10, 2025