Football’s Spring Break Depth Chart

Purdue has five practices in the books this spring with 10 to go for first-year coach Barry Odom. The Boilermakers will be back on the field March 25 and wrap things up on April 12 with a spring game. Here’s our best guess projection of the current depth charts.

Offensive depth chart

First-team	Second-team
Pos. Name, Class	Name, Class
QB EJ Colson, RS Fr.	Evans Chuba, RFr.
RB Devin Mockobee, Sr.	Jaheim Merriweather, So.
TE/FB George Burhenn, Jr.	Christian Moore, Sr.
WR De’Nylon Morrissette, Jr.	Chauncey Magwood, Sr.
WR Nathan Leacock, So.	Jayden Dixon-Veal, Sr.
WR Charles Ross, Sr.	EJ Horton, Sr.
LT Joey Tanona, Jr.	John Randle, RS Fr.
LG Jalen “Chop” St. John, Sr.	Tom Ewing, So.
C Giordano Vaccaro, Sr.	Mason Vicari, So.
RG Hank Purvis, So.	Jaden Ball, RS Fr.
RT Bakyne Coly, Sr.	Max Parrott, RS Fr.

NOTES

LINE: The tackle spots have been pretty consistent throughout the spring, with Coly on the right side and Tanona on the left. Wouldn’t be a shock if both stay there. Also consistent: St. John at left guard. Vaccaro has been all that and a bag of chips snapping the ball. The canuck is a classic mauler. The right guard slot has seen some different incarnations, with Ball and Vicari also getting first-team reps. Portal help probably is on the way.

QB: It appears that Colson and Chuba may have a slight edge on Malachi Singleton. But, it’s early. Colson and Chuba throw the “best ball.” All three check the “athletic” box. Still a long ways to go. Will one of this trio hit the portal after spring ball?

RB: Mockobee is the clear alpha. Virginia Tech transfer Malachi Thomas has yet to play a snap after undergoing offseason surgery. He may see the field after spring break. Merriweather and walk-on Antonio Harris have seen plenty of action. Perhaps another running back needs to be added via the portal.

WR: Lots of shuffling here, so it’s difficult to ascertain a true top three. But Morrissette, Leacock, Ross, Horton, Dixon-Veal, Magwood and Isaiah Myers have figured prominently in various combinations during 11 on 11 work. The staff wanted more length in this unit and has done so. Is there a true No. 1 option? Dunno.

TE: Burhenn is the unquestioned No. 1. He could be primed for a breakout after being nagged by injury during his career. Moore is a versatile weapon who also can line up in the backfield as a de facto fullback. He could be a real weapon. Christian Earls (6-8, 275) and Luca Puccinelli (6-6, 260) are massive targets. Can they catch?

MORE: Spring football content portal

Defensive depth chart

First-team	Second-team
Pos. Name, Class	Name, Class
E Trey Smith, So.	Breeon Ishmail, So.
T TJ Lindsay, RFr.	Jamarrion Harkless, So.
T Jamarius Dinkins, Sr.	Demeco Kennedy, So.
E C.J. Madden, Jr.	CJ Nunnally, Sr.
LB Mani Powell, Sr.	Carson Dean, So.
LB Winston Berglund, So.	Hudson Miller, Jr.
LB Alex Sanford, Jr.	Owen Davis, So.
CB Tony Grimes, Sr.	Chad Brown, Sr.
CB Ryan Turner, Jr.	Hudauri Hines, RFr.
S Sterling Smith, Jr.	Richard Toney, Sr.
S Crew Wakley, Sr.	Smiley Bradford, So.

NOTES

LINE: Who will bring the heat? Madden looks like the No. 1 edge option. He could be a difference-maker. After that? Smith has spent a lot of time with the first-team. Waiting for Nunnally and Ishmail to make moves. Both pass the eyeball test. It’s easy to get excited about Lindsey, whose combination size/effort stands out. Purdue may have something in the Auburn transfer. Dinkins has seen plenty of time with the “1s.” Will it last? He was a massive underachiever last year after arriving from Kentucky. Mo Omonode has been out as he recovers from back surgery. We may not see him until August camp.

LBs: This area has a lot to prove. Berglund will need to lead the way. He has been limited at times. He needs to take the proverbial next step. This could be his year. Powell looks like the real deal, an athletic quick-striker. Sanford is a nice combo of size/speed. Purdue already is in the market for help, extending an offer to Tennessee State’s Sanders Ellis.

DBs: Lots to sort through, as no position suffered as much portal tumult. Grimes looks like the unquestioned No. 1 corner. No shock. Turner has spent considerable time opposite Grimes. Wakley looks like the quarterback of the defense from his safety spot. No player has made a bigger move than Smith, a safety who has ascended to the first-team after arriving as a walk-on transfer from Holy Cross last season. As a reward, Smith earned a number change, from 46 to 3. He is smart and dependable. Safety Tahj Ra-El has missed all spring coming off surgery; the Memphis transfer has had a boot on his lower right left. He could be back after the break. The staff likes Hudauri Hines, a big corner. Smiley is the top slot corner/nickel. Purdue already is looking to add help via the portal, offering North Alabama corner Ashaad Williams.

Special teams depth chart

First-team	Second-team
Pos. Name, Class	Name, Class
K Spencer Porath, So.	Jake Weeter, So.
P Sam Dubwig, RFr.	Bennett Boehnlein, Jr.

NOTES:

Porath is the kicker, backed for now by Weeter–a walk-on. But special teams coach James Shibest has said he’s shopping for a portal kicker. Dubwig has shown promise punting. How many kickers and punters will Purdue keep on its 105-man roster? Some may need to be able to pull double-duty. Jesse Watson, Hines, Morrissette and Magwood have worked as return men. Long ways to go here. Nick Levy is a primo long-snapper.