Head coach breakdown: ’25 RB Jaron Thomas

Purdue was thought to be content with taking just one running back in the Class of 2025. But Jaron Thomas was too good to pass up.

The staff worked him out in June while on campus, a scholarship offer was made soon after and Thomas quickly accepted. He joins Ziaire Stevens of East High in Akron, Ohio, as Purdue’s two running back commits.

The 6-1, 200-pound product of Concord High in Elkhart, Ind., had offers from the likes of Western Michigan, Air Force, Army, Southern Illinois, Yale and Ball State. Credit Boilermaker running backs coach Lamar Conard–an Elkhart native–for making the push for Thomas.

Not only is Thomas big and physical, but he’s also fast, competing in the state 100-meter dash and 4 x 100 relay in June.

Thomas doubles as a standout linebacker for Concord, making some wonder if he may one day play the position in college.

GoldandBlack.com spoke to Elkhart Concord (5A school) head coach Craig Koehler to learn more about the Boilermaker running back commitment.

Q: What type of a running back is Purdue getting?

A: Super, super twitchy and explosive. His short-speed, in-the-box speed, is elite. Ran 10.7 in the 100. A lot of our focus this summer with our stuff is just trying to get him to slow down.

Q: What does he need to work on?

A: Slowing down. That’s his biggest thing. If we can get him to slow down especially with in-the-box runs, inside zone and power and counter, between-the-tackle-type runs. Lamar had a lot of good teaching points. We spent a lot of time with Lamar the last couple of months on things that he teaches Purdue’s guys. We’ve tried to implement those with him at our workouts and in our practices. It will help us and help him get prepared for how Lamar is going to coach him.

Q: Can he catch the ball?

A: Yes. That morning he got the offer, the Purdue coaches worked him out for about half an hour before a camp. And they threw him a ton of balls. Actually, (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach) Graham (Harrell) was the one throwing him the balls. I think he dropped one the whole time. He doesn’t have elite ball skills, but he’s very capable out the backfield.

Q: He can block?

A: Yes. He didn’t come off the field for us last year. He’s our starting middle linebacker and he returned kick for us also. That was another variable that makes him very intriguing. His defensive film is as impressive as his offense. There were just as many places that liked him as a linebacker as did a running back.

Q: So, he could end up being a linebacker?

A: He has elite traits. He’s a freak in the weight room. He’s a 335-pound power clean guy. He’s almost a 500-pound squat. He’s a freak in the weight room. The thing most people don’t know about him: He’s just 16 years old. He turns 17 at the end of June.

I think in two years, he’s gonna weigh 240 pounds. His upside is way up there. He’s still a boy. He doesn’t look like he’s 16. I think he has a tremendous upside and a very high ceiling and I think when Lamar and the rest of the staff found out that he was only 16, I think that was one of the deciding factors on them pulling the trigger with the offer.

Q: Did he have many offers?

A: He had three MAC offers, all the academies. I’ve been here over 20 years, we don’t have Division One kids every year, but we’ve definitely had some. This one has been the most perplexing kid we’ve had because I have a hard time believing there’s that many 6-1, 200-pound kids running 10.7 out there. Those kids aren’t out there. So, yeah, I believe that Purdue’s staff feels that they got an under-the-radar guy that is going to blossom into a really, really good player.

Q: Why was he under-recruited?

A: He didn’t have a lot of tape as a sophomore and he blew up as a junior. So, we had some tape of him. I had a prior relationship with Lamar. I told him I thought he was a Big Ten player. And Lamar watched his film and agreed. Lamar kind of slow cooked it because he already had the other commit. So, it was a little bit of a process for them deciding if they wanted to take two running backs. I think they believe that Jaron is going to be able to come in and contribute quickly on special teams and be that kind of a player before maybe he’s the starting running back.

Q: Anything unique about him off the field?

A: He is wise beyond his years. He’s very mature. It’s hard to believe he’s 16. Good student, a 3.5 GPA kid. So, when he talks about going and getting a Purdue degree, that wasn’t lip service. He values that, so do his parents.

Q: What’s his background like?

A: He’s a middle child of three brothers. He checks all the boxes. You’re getting a really good citizen. A good kid. A good student. Extremely hard working kid, great work ethic. He’s a weight room kid. He’s really, really talented. When you’re around the kid every day, it’s hard to gauge it. Everyone outside our programs is like: Dang, he’s good.