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Old National Presents: The 3-2-1 of Purdue football

Karpick_headshot500x500by:Alan Karpick•02/03/25•

AlanKarpick

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Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s The 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football.

Three things leaned

1 The few, the proud …

Remember when the February Signing Day was a gala event? (Sigh) Not so much now with the December early signing period. It basically will be a non-event tomorrow for Purdue.

The program isn’t expected to sign many recruits on Wednesday. How many? LB Kimar Nelson and DB Maxwell Barbee took official visits last weekend, so they are possibilities but not sure things. Does Purdue want them?

Former UNLV signee Mason Alnutt will sign. LS Justin Schmidt will ink; he’s thought to be a PWO.

After that?

2 – Viva Las Vegas!

Once Barry Odom took the Purdue job, he saw a raft of his 2025 signees at UNLV flip to Purdue: DE Mason Alnutt, S Vi’Naz Cobb, TE Jon Grimmett, LB Parker Meese, QB Garyt Odom. There was a sixth–DB Antonio Parker–but he was dismissed from the program following a recent arrest.

Cobb, Grimmett, Meese and Odom are already signed and enrolled. And, as mentioned above, Alnutt will sign on Wednesday and then arrive in May.

3 – And then there were 10

That’s how many players account for Purdue’s current 2025 class, with the five UNLV players joining five players who signed with the Boilermakers in December: DE Landon Brooks; RB Ziaire Stevens; CB Zyntreacs Otey; RB Jaron Thomas; LB Sam Steward. Brooks and Stevens already are enrolled.

MORE: Purdue 2025 commitments

Two questions

1 Will in-state OL Cameron Gorin be Boilermaker?

Gorin is a Purdue legacy whose father–Brandon–played o-line for the Boilermakers under Joe Tiller from 1996-2000 and then played in the NFL.

Cameron Gorin was committed to Purdue in the fall. But coaching tumult caused Gorin to walk away from the pledge and not sign in December. Odom’s staff has been in constant contact with Gorin. Will it persuade him to sign on Wednesday?

Some observers think Gorin will sign with Louisville. One person close to the situation told me Gorin is “for sure” going to Louisville.

Bottom line: It’s not looking good for Purdue to land the Hamilton Southeastern product.

Can Purdue land in-state OL Cameron Gorin? Or will the Boiler legacy ink with Louisville?

2 – Who is Purdue’s best signee?

There is no singular standout among the 10 players already signed, as none are rated more than three-stars by any recruiting service.

The best? Let’s go with Jaron Thomas of Concord High in Elkhart, Ind. The 6-0, 200-pound Thomas is a physical running back who also excelled as a linebacker. Could that be his future position?

CB Zyntreacs Otey of Battle Ground Academy in Murfreesboro, Tenn., also comes with a high On3 rating. And keep an eye on DE Landon Brooks and RB Ziaire Stevens.

The highest rated of the UNLV signees: TE Jon Grimmett.

One bold statement: Purdue’s 2025 class will rank last in Big Ten

Actually, it’s not so bold.

Expect Odom’s first Purdue haul to rank last among recruiting services in the 18-team Big Ten.

Without a doubt, Odom’s late start will be a factor in the perceived strength/quality of Purdue’s 2025 class. And the fact it probably will be the smallest Big Ten class also will hamper its ranking.

But, hey, it’s a start.

MORE: Who jumped in the portal for Purdue? | Who is coming from the portal? | Purdue 2025 newcomer roster |  GoldandBlack.com content hub: Welcome to the Barry Odom era

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