Deep Dive Spring FB Practice No. 4

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

• It was a beautiful day for football in West Lafayette, as the team worked outdoors for practice No. 4. The pace and tempo were good.

• Great to talk to an all-time Purdue great at practice: Jeff Zgonina. The Z-man was an impossible-to-block force of nature who played in West Lafayette from 1988-92. The 1992 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-American whose banner hangs in Mollenkopf went on to play 17 seasons in the NFL. He was a physical freak who still looks like he could play. Zgonina coached the d-line with the Cowboys last year but is looking for a job now. He was on campus to visit with his daughter, who is a senior and manager for the wrestling team, so he decided to stop by practice. Zgonina also has a son who attends George Washington.

• Why was Ohio State coach Ryan Day in the Kozuch Football Performance Complex this week? He was being a dad, tagging along with his son: R.J. Day, a 2027 quarterback who attends St. Francis DeSales in Columbus where he already is the school’s all-time leading passer. The 6-0, 195-pound Day has offers from Boston College, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, Kent and Marshall. Purdue is evaluating Day as a potential recruit.

FYI: Day and Barry Odom also are good buddies, I am told.

• WRs Courtney Magwood, Jesse Watson and Charles Ross were working on fielding punts.

• It’s still very early, but it sounds like EJ Colson and Evans Chuba may have separated as the top two quarterbacks. Some feel Colson throws the best ball of any quarterback. I’ve mentioned Chuba in this space before. Again, it is still very early.

• Odom offered no clarity on the QB situation through four practices.

“This is in no order, but Bennett Meredith has had a good, really, four days,” he said. “Evans Chuba has made progress in the things that we wanted to see him make progress up to this point. Malachi Singleton has really advanced his game, in my opinion. And then EJ Colson continues to make plays. We are rotating those guys with every group. Those four right now have done a really nice job.”

• I asked Magwood who he thought was the fastest WR. He said EJ Horton and Nathan Leacock, while also mentioning Watson and Jayden Dixon-Veal.

“Leacock ran track,” said Magwood. “And EJ is twitchy fast.”

My money is on Leacock to be the alpha wideout of this still developing unit.

• The best o-lineman? It’s Joey Tanona, who has been lining up at left tackle. Also hear good things about the No. 1 center: Giordano Vaccaro, a Canadian import who is not physically imposing but plays with tenacity. Physically, right tackle Bakyne Coly looks like a pro and probably is the third-best blocker. But can Coly “play mean”?

• Odom discussed health status of three players who have yet to practice this spring:

-DL Mo Omonode: “He had a back procedure and is turning in the right direction. It was something we inherited when we got here. And so he’s moving a little closer to being back out here and doing some moving around outside. So, we’re getting closer.”

-S Tahj Ra-El: “Tahj went through really most of winter conditioning. Had an injury to his foot and is in a boot. But he’s getting close. I think once we get back (from spring break), he’ll be out there.”

-RB Malachi Thomas: “Malachi had an injury in the bowl game at his previous school (Virginia Tech), and we had to get it fixed when he got here. So, I think both of those guys (Ra-El and Thomas) after spring break could be in action to some extent.”

• Someone told me UNLV transfer OL Hank Purvis is related to former Purdue great Duane Purvis, who has a fabulous peanut butter-infused hamburger named for him at Triple XXX. The mammoth Purvis (6-5, 330) has been running with the No. 1 OL at right guard. He may now be my favorite Purdue player.

• Speaking of the OL, watching line coach Vance Vice reminds me so much of Danny Hope, right down to wearing his ball cap backward and with wraparound shades on. Vice also is a bit salty. He wants smart p – – – – – to be his linemen.

• LB Winston Berglund appeared to be limited today.

• A Purdue athletic honcho told me the football roster sits at 114.

• Spencer Porath and Jack Weeter took turns kicking field goals. Weeter is a recently added walk-on who kicked at Brebeuf Jesuit in Indianapolis.

Thanks for reading. Purdue will be back on the field on Thursday morning before taking off for spring break.