Georgia Foursome Brings Impact

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They arrived from Athens, Ga., via the transfer portal one by one, seeking opportunity and a chance to prove themselves in West Lafayette. They are the “Georgia Four.”

There’s cornerback Nyland Green, wideout De’Nylon Morrissette, wideout CJ Smith and rush end CJ Madden.

“They’ve seen what it’s like to win a championship,” said Purdue coach Ryan Walters of the four former Bulldogs who helped Georgia win national titles in 2021 and 2022.

With that title pedigree, the foursome brings swagger to Purdue’s locker room as the program looks for firm footing coming off a 4-8 season.

“What Coach Walt and CP (WR coach Cory Patterson) were telling me, I fully believe in what they have done and what they have been building,” said Smith. “I want to be a part of it. With us Georgia boys, there are four of us that came in. We all want to buy into this and make this program great.”

There was no master plan for all four to matriculate to Purdue. It happened organically.

“We had needs,” said Walters. “They had needs, and those needs sort of mesh well with each other. I think they were surprised about how this place was set up and the resources we had. Once they got here, they didn’t know a lot about Purdue.

“When De’Nylon got here and he saw it, we told him about the other three, and that was after he committed in my office. So, he was like, ‘Oh, shoot, let’s go.’ It was funny how it all played out. And lot of sleepless nights on the phone, trying to recruit for a couple weeks. I’m glad it all worked out.”

Added Smith: “At first, it was coincidence. When I hit the portal, the first two people who reached out were CJ (Madden) and De’Nylon. And, all of a sudden, De’Nylon is telling me he’s going there, too. So, it just made everything more sweet.”

Before taking commitments from any of the Georgia Four–or any transfer, for that matter–Walters talks to the players who hosted the transfers during their visit.

“Every transfer that we bought in on an official, we vetted their host to see if they were a good fit,” said Walters. “There were some guys it was like, ‘Nah, Coach, he’s just about the money.’ So, we didn’t take him.

“With those guys, obviously, we needed them. And, obviously, the coaching world is a small one. I know guys on that staff, so I was able to make phone calls and get some information. I think we hit on all four of them.”

That’s the hope.

Green is already considered the No. 1 cornerback, though he’ll miss the season opener with a foot injury. Morrissette looks ready to be a key part of the a revamped receiver rotation. Smith–who will miss the opener with a hamstring injury–looks primed to start, as does Madden.

“Just being in college, being there for two years, seeing the natty, of course, that carries a mindset,” said Madden. “When I came here, I just tried to be a leader and just pour into the team, that winning mentality, doing stuff the right way. I feel like it’s been going well.”

Madden also has emerged as a leader.

“The only vocal guy out of that group is probably CJ Madden,” said Walters. “Nyland is a heck of a competitor. CJ (Smith) is heck of a competitor, and both tough as nails, same with De’Nylon. But CJ is really the only vocal one in terms of bringing guys along. So, I just think they know what it looks like, and kind of really embraced our culture.”

Purdue veterans have been impressed.

“You can tell that they’re just really confident guys in their abilities,” said Purdue running back Devin Mockobee. “They know how to operate as a professional. I think with them coming in, just having more vets coming in to show and be an example for more young guys, I think it was a really good thing for us.”

Green is glad to be in West Lafayette.

“It really wasn’t a planned decision (for all four to come to Purdue),” he said. “We all had a talk with god, with our parents about the situation. We thought about it and we all just ended up here. We are all brothers, we work together, run together.”

2024 Purdue transfer additions (20)

Name, pos. (day committed)	Former school
Kyndrich Breelove, CB (1/7/24): Story	Colorado
Kam Brown, WR (12/17/23): Story	UCLA
Keelan Crimmins, P (4/20/24): Story	Mississippi State
Jamarius Dinkins, DL (12/10/23): Story	Kentucky
Nyland Green, CB (12/25/23): Story	Georgia
Nick Levy, LS (4/25/24): Story	William & Mary
RJ Lopez*, K (2/20/24): Story	UCLA
Reggie Love, RB (12/17/23): Story	Illinois
C.J. Madden, OLB (12/16/23): Story	Georgia
De’Nylon Morrissette, WR (1/5/24): Story	Georiga
Jireh Ojata, OLB (12/28/23): Story	Franklin College
Josh Sales, OT (12/28/23): Story	Indiana
Shitta Sillah, OLB (12/15/23): Story	Boston College
Calvin “Trey” Smith, rush end (5/14/24): Story	Illinois
C.J. Smith, WR (1/5/24): Story	Georgia
Sterling Smith*, S (12/20/23)	Holy Cross
Corey Stewart, OL (12/10/23): Story	Ball State
Claude Strnad*, LS (6/6/24)	Illinois State
Joey Tanona, OL (12/8/23): Story	Notre Dame
DJ Wingfield, OL (12/10/23): Story	New Mexico

* walk-on