Portal Position Analysis: Running Backs
The portal additions have come fast and furious this winter for Purdue, as new coach Barry Odom has been busy building a roster for his maiden team.
The current portal addition count for Purdue: 29. More players will be added in the spring when a second portal window opens April 16-25.
Who has Purdue added thus far? GoldandBlack.com takes a position-by-position look. Next up: Running backs.
MORE POSITION ANALYSIS: Quarterbacks
RUNNING BACK
| Player, school |
| Malachi Thomas, Virginia Tech |
This spot has an alpha in Devin Mockobee, who is back for his fourth and final season as the No. 1 option. He could have bolted West Lafayette for greener (money) pastures via the portal, but he opted to stay tethered to the school he loves. Mockobee will be the bell cow of the backfield as he looks to punctuate a career that will see him leave as an all-time Purdue great.
The No. 2 man with Reggie Love gone? It probably will be Va Tech transfer Malachi Thomas, a proven runner with four years of experience in the ACC. He’s battle-tested with one season of eligibility. Thomas didn’t sign with Purdue to play a small role in his college swan song. How big of a load will he carry with Mockobee the lead back?
The staff needs to develop Jaheim Merriweather. He’s a rangy back who drips with potential. Merriweather flashed as a true freshman in 2024 but was too loose with the ball.
Antonio Harris is a returning walk-on with potential. The staff also welcomes two freshmen: Jaron Thomas and Ziaire Stevens, who is enrolled for spring drills.
MALACHI THOMAS, 6-0, 215
Thomas is the lone running back Purdue has taken from the portal. And, he may end up being the only back it takes from the portal. That’s TBD.
The 6-0, 215-pound Thomas is more of an inside-zone-type of runner, which is why he wasn’t heavily featured the last two years at Tech with Bhayshul Tuten serving as the primary Hokie tailback.
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Thomas was recruited by former Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente and fit within that offensive scheme. Tyler Bowen, the OC under current Hokie coach Brent Pry, uses an outside-zone run scheme that didn’t fit Thomas’ strengths.
And there was this: Thomas dealt with ankle injuries during his time at Tech. His most recent ankle injury limited him over the second half of this past season. When he’s healthy and in a scheme that highlights inside-zone running, he’s very good.
Thomas had a pair of 100-yard games against Syracuse and Georgia Tech in 2021 before being limited down the stretch. His only season that didn’t feature injuries was 2023, and Tuten had most of the workload then.
Thomas left Virginia Tech having ran for 1,132 yards (4.4 ypc) and seven TDs on 256 carries from 2021-24. He also caught 28 passes with a TD in 38 games in Blacksburg.
A native of Hartwell, Ga., who played at Hart County High, Thomas’ most productive season was his first in 2021, when he ran for 440 yards (4.7 ypc) and three TDs.
Thomas had 165 yards rushing on 43 carries (3.8 ypc) with a TD in 2024 and made four receptions after running for 381 yards with nine catches in 2023. That season, Thomas ran six times for a team-high 18 yards in a 24-17 loss to Purdue in Blacksburg.
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
