First and 10: Fresno State at Purdue

As we start the week, 10 items of interest as Purdue begins the Ryan Walters era against Fresno State on Saturday inside the new-look Ross-Ade Stadium:

The Boilermakers are a 3.5-point favorite after the line opened at 6.5 in the offseason.

• Another new beginning for the program. Walters is the fourth new coach since 2009 and the second to make his college debut with the Boilermakers. The previous three coaches – Jeff Brohm, Darrell Hazell and Danny Hope – were 1-2 in their first games at Purdue. Hope had the luxury of starting his career at home against Toledo, while Brohm and Hazell opened away from Ross-Ade Stadium. Walters is set to carve his own path, but it will be interesting to track if any parallels emerge.  

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• Thanks to the transfer portal, the Boilermakers have a bunch of new faces. When Brohm left for Louisville, several players with eligibility remaining decided to move on, forcing Walters and his staff to comb the market for replacements. This is the era of college football – and college athletics – to see how coaches blend together big rosters every year.

• How much of what Walters accomplished defensively at Illinois transfers to the Boilermakers? The scheme, approach and energy made the roughly 90-mile journey, but he’ll have different players to execute his plan. The Illini’s success on defense is why Walters was hired, and limiting the growing pains on that side of the ball will help dictate how this season unfolds.

• One area Walters must clean up from last year is the numerous missed tackles in the secondary. No other position has undergone more change than cornerback. One holdover – Jamari Brown – left after training camp started, allowing a host of transfers and newcomers to change the narrative.

• Lots of hype surrounding quarterback Hudson Card. The transfer from Texas spent the last three seasons with the Longhorns and gained a lot of experience, including a solid four-game stretch last season against Alabama, UTSA, Texas Tech and West Virginia. Card brings a running dimension that should keep opposing defenses guessing what’s coming next. The intrigue is high to see how the marriage of Card and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell meshes.

• Who develops into Card’s No. 1 receiving target? The program is accustomed to showcasing NFL-type talent, but the current group lacks star power but maybe Card elevates everyone around him. T.J. Sheffield, Deion Burks, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen and Mershawn Rice must step into new roles to give the offense a big-play dimension.

• Don’t forget about the return of tight end Garrett Miller. He flashed his talent two years ago but missed last season due to a knee injury. Miller could provide the star quality in the passing game.  

• Will Devin Mockobee reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark? The former walk-on nearly became the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2007 last season but fell 32 yards short. Mockobee didn’t move to No. 1 on the depth chart until midseason and missed out on early season carries. He’s the top running back heading into 2023 and based on what he did on a full-time basis in half of season, the milestone is well within reach. The running back room has depth with Tyrone Tracy and Dylan Downing.

• Fresno State will also start a transfer quarterback. Mikey Keene, who last played at Central Florida, is expected to run coach Jeff Tedford’s offense in the season opener. Tedford has a reputation for developing quarterbacks and giving them the tools they need to succeed. He’s mentored six first-round NFL picks, including Kyle Boller, David Carr, Trent Dilfer, Joey Harrington and Aaron Rodgers during stints as a head coach and assistant. Keene likely doesn’t fit into that category but based on Tedford’s history, he’ll challenge the Boilermakers.

• Phase 1 of the Ross-Stadium renovation makes its debut on Saturday. What will the noise impact of moving the student section and the band to the south end zone mean for the atmosphere? One goal is to create a similar environment to Mackey Arena and turn the stadium into an intimidating setting for opponents. The Tiller Tunnel brings a new level of excitement and other upgrades moves the stadium into the modern era.