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Opener vs. Fresno State kicks off Ryan Walters' era, key September for Purdue

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•08/28/23•

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(Chad Krockover)

The grind is finished. Finally, it’s game week for Purdue and Ryan Walters, who will take the wraps off his head coaching career on Saturday at noon ET on BTN vs. Fresno State.

“I’m just focused on the game plan, trying to help out where I can offensively, defensively, special teams,” said Walters. “Really just excited for our guys that have really put in the work to be able to reach this point and be ready to go play a game. I’m excited to see them play against another opponent instead of hitting each other every day in practice.”

Fresno State traditionally is one of the strongest Group of Five programs in the nation. And, the Bulldogs should be formidable again, led by 61-year-old head coach Jeff Tedford.

“I think it speaks volumes to the culture that Coach Tedford has created there and really has created his whole career,” said Walters, who at 37 is the fifth-youngest head coach in FBS. “Started 1-4 (in 2022) and to win 10 games and a conference championship and ended on a nine-game win streak tells you how tough they are, how together they are in that building. And so it’ll be a challenge, but it’ll be a challenge every week.”

If Purdue is going to prevail and start 1-0, it will have to do so without two key players on offense: TE Garrett Miller and C Gus Hartwig. Each is coming off a 2022 knee injury, as the staff had been anticipating their absence for weeks.

“That was the plan from a rehab standpoint from the start,” said Walters, who will try to become the first Boilermaker coach to win his debut since Danny Hope downed Toledo in 2009.

MORE: First and 10: Fresno State at Purdue | First look: Fresno State | Gold and Black Radio: Game week arrives | Three Thoughts From The Weekend: Purdue-Fresno State, injury reports and more | The 3-2-1: Injury report coming, Ross-Ade ready and who will snap ball?

This is the first of four home games in September, a month that could go a long way in determing the trajectory of the Boilermakers’ season. After opening vs. Fresno State, Purdue plays at Virginia Tech and the closes the month with three home games: Syracuse, Wisconsin and Illinois.

“Obviously, you want to start fast and you don’t want to ease into the season,” said Walters. “Our schedule doesn’t really allow for that anyway and we have set up summer workouts and set up the way we practice this fall to be able to hit the ground running.

“So, it’s important to get off to a good start to build confidence and build camaraderie and chemistry with a group of guys that is a veteran group but without a whole lot of experience playing with each other.”

A key part of Purdue’s group is QB Hudson Card, a Texas transfer who has turned heads since arriving on campus in January.

“You see a guy that’s extremely accurate with a big arm that gets the ball out quickly and throws a nice catchable tight spiral,” said Walters, whose season-opening depth chart includes 17 players from the portal. “A guy that’s athletic and can extend plays and make you miss on the ground.

“But I think what’s most important and most impressive from my vantage point is just his poise. He’s got calm confidence to him, understands the scheme and can get the ball out quickly and go through his reads on time. He’s a great quarterback. He’s one of the best I’ve been around in person. And I’m excited to see him play this fall.”

Card may look early and often to WR Deion Burks.

“He’s a freak,” said Walters. “I’m excited to watch him play this season.”

Walters’ debut will play out against the backdrop of a renovated Ross-Ade Stadium, which underwent a $45 million sprucing up that includes a re-imagined south end zone and new Tiller Tunnel that players will run through to enter the playing field.

“I’m very excited to get out in front of the fans of Ross-Ade and showcase what we’ve been working on.”

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