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Express Depth Chart: Purdue defense

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•08/24/23•

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depth chart defense

Purdue will begin the 2023 season on September 2nd, when Fresno State visits West Lafayette. Here is GoldandBlack.com’s projected defensive depth chart.

MORE: Projected offensive depth chart

Projected preseason defensive depth chart

FIRST TEAMSECOND TEAM
Position Player, ClassPlayer, Class
OLB Nic Scourton, So.Khordae Sydnor, RSo.
E Isaiah Nichols, 6thJoe Anderson, 5thSr.
NT Cole Brevard, RJr.Damarjhe Lewis, RJr.
E Malik Langham, 6thJeffrey M’Ba, Sr.
OLB Kydran Jenkins, Sr.Will Heldt, Fr.
LB Yanni Karlaftis, RSo.Clyde Washington, RJr.
LB OC Brothers, 5thSr.Domanick Moon, RFr.
CB Markevious Brown, Jr.Botros Alisandro, So.
CB Marquis Wilson, 5thSr.Derrick Rogers, Fr.
S Dillon Thieneman, Fr.Sanoussi Kane, Sr.
S Cam Allen, 5thSr.Antonio Stevens, RJr.

MORE: Purdue Football 2023 Training Camp Content Hub

NOTES

Line: Purdue got much bigger up front by importing three SEC transfers: Malik Langham, Isaiah Nichols and Jeffrey M’Ba. The anchor on the interior is nose man Cole Brevard. Quality depth abounds in players like Joe Anderson, Mo Omonode and Damarjhe Lewis, who is coming off a knee injury that scrubbed his 2022 season. Prince Boyd has missed camp getting over an Achilles injury. Is Joe Strickland ready for more?

Linebackers: The strongest position on the roster? It’s outside linebacker, with Nic Scourton, Khordae Sydnor and Kydran Jenkins leading the way. Keep an eye on freshman Will Heldt. OC Brothers is the bellwether at inside linebacker, with Yanni Karlaftis and Clyde Washington bolstering the position.

Secondary: The cornerback slot has been totally rehabbed, with the unit comprised of transfers and freshmen. The best of the bunch are Penn State transfer Marquis Wilson and Ole Miss transfer Markevious Brown. JC transfer Botros Alisandro has been a surprise. Derrick Rogers is a precocious freshman. Purdue needs Stanford transfer Salim Turner-Muhammad to get over a hamstring issue. Speaking of precocious, safety Dillon Thieneman is primed to start at a safety spot that is anchored by veterans Cam Allen and Sanoussi Kane, a captain. Antonio Stevens continues an amazing comeback from a devastating 2020 knee injury.

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