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Express Deep Dive: Practice 7

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•04/04/23•

TomDienhart1

Ryan Walters
(@KrockPhoto)

Purdue held its seventh practice of the spring on Tuesday, working inside the Mollenkopf Center for each session. Let’s take a Deep Dive!

NOTE: Purdue opened only the first five periods (roughly 30 minutes) of practice on Tuesday (April 4) The Boilermakers next hit the field on Thursday evening (April 6).

MORE: 2023 Purdue spring football content hub

1 – BTN analyst Howard Griffith was on hand to watch practice along with son Houston, who played in the secondary at Notre Dame. Todd Blackledge also took in the practice. The former Penn State QB left ESPN to headline NBC’s “Big Ten Saturday Night” college football announcing team for this fall. He will be joined by Noah Eagle (play-by-play) in the booth and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter). Maria Taylor will handle lead studio duties for NBC’s Big Ten coverage.

2 – Massive true freshman NT Jamarrion Harkless was in full gear today. I think it was the first time this spring. If it wasn’t his first, it was Harkless’ first full-go practice in a while.

3 – Speaking of Harkless, the NT/DE group today included Joe Anderson, Joe Strickland, Sulaiman Kpaka, Tristan Cox, Mo Omonode and Cole Brevard. No Prince Boyd, Isaiah Nichols or Damarjhe Lewis.

4 – As I posted on the board earlier today, Purdue had some nice visitors in for practice.

2024 CB Austin Alexander. He’s a one-time Wisconsin commit who holds offers from Iowa, Michigan, Syracuse, Iowa State and others.

2024 ATH Jo’Ziah Edmond, who has offers from Baylor, Ole Miss and Iowa State, among others. Purdue could be in the lead for the in-state product.

2024 DL Joe Barna, whose best offer is Iowa State. He is from Illinois.

2024 OT Marques Easley, who literally and figuratively was the biggest recruit on hand. The 6-7, 300-pounder is a four-star prospect from Illinois with an eye-popping offer list: Bama, Georgia, Michigan, FSU. Just getting him to campus says a lot about this staffs’ recruiting prowess.

2025 QB EJ Colson, who already holds offers from Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Arkansas, Cincinnati and others.

There was a raft of players from Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights on campus. That’s Alexander’s school.

5 – Noticed WR Andrew Sowinski was just watching. Didn’t see TE Drew Biber. DE J.P. Deeter has an arm in a sling.

6 – Kentrell Marks was back. Hadn’t seen him of late with the other RBs. Another nugget I learned: RB Addai Lewellen is named for former Colts RB Joseph Addai, who has a bit of relationship with the Purdue redshirt frosh.

7 – For the first time this spring, we saw o-linemen battling d-linemen in one-on-one pass block/pass rush drills. This always raises temperatures.

8 – WR Curtis Deville was back but fellow wideouts Zion Steptoe and WR Broc Thompson were missing. Also don’t recall seeing Preston Terrell. Sowinski was mentioned above as being out.

9 – Other MIAs not mentioned yet: OLB Scotty Humpich, OLB Kydran Jenkins, C Gus Hartwig, OT Daniel Johnson, TE Garrett Miller, OT Nalin Fox, OL Cross Watson and S Anthony Brown. Also not sure if I saw G Zach Richards.

10 – Tee Denson continues to work out with the safeties. He came from Kansas State as a corner, missing all of last year after transferring to Purdue. True freshman safety Ethon Cole remains out. I don’t think I’ve seen him once.

11 – Looks like Jalen Grant has been the No. 1 center, with Marcus Mbow and Josh Kaltenberger at the guard slots. Mahamane Moussa and Eric Miller are the top tackles.

12 – LB Yanni Karlaftis mentioned brother George watches practice tape and offers tips. I asked Yanni who was the most famous person he saw at the Super Bowl: He said Ant-Man, Paul Rudd, who grew up in suburban Kansas City and went to the University of Kansas.

Thanks for reading!

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