Purdue football's slogan for 2024? Ryan Walters isn't saying as training camp begins

MORE: Deep Dive, practice No. 1

Most football teams have a season slogan or a mantra. Purdue does for the 2024 season, but Ryan Walters isn’t sharing it.

“That’s for the squad,” he said after the Boilermakers’ first camp practice today. “We had a couple of pointed conversations last night.”

What was the subject matter of his talk with the team?

“I don’t wanna make any of you guys mad,” he said.

No doubt, the slogan for 2024 likely involves proving people wrong–specifically the media. The us-against-the world rallying cry is a tried-and-true motivational ploy for coaches. Everyone in the Kozuch Football Performance Complex has to be fueled by last-place forecasts by prognosticators.

Walters wants to stoke those fires. Today was a first step for his second edition to prove doubters wrong.

“It’s a first practice, but it is great to be out here,” said Walters, whose team was forced indoors about an hour into practice by a storm. “The guys have been working really hard all offseason, perfecting our craft, getting physically developed. It was good to get the first one out of the way.”

Purdue will open its 2024 season a month from today at home, when FCS Indiana State visits. Things get more challenging from there, with a visit from Notre Dame followed by a trip to Oregon State in what’s a daunting slate that includes the Big Ten’s three top teams: Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State. But the focus now is on improving and developing.

“Looking back to where we were at this point a year ago, it’s not close,” said Walters. “It’s night and day difference. Obviously, a lot of new faces, but even the guys returning, they look different. They’re more confident, they’re more comfortable. Staff understands what’s expected, what the routine is. So, obviously, a lot smoother, a lot more recall. And a lot to build off of.”

One of those building blocks will be sophomore safety Dillon Thieneman, who is coming off a sensational debut that saw him earn myriad accolades. His All-American banner already hangs in the Mollenkopf indoor complex and he’s appearing on numerous award watch lists for 2024. Is he feeling any pressure?

“A little bit,” said Thieneman. “But, I put way more pressure on myself, so I’m kinda used to it.”

Walters is folding in 37 new players, many of whom arrived in January. That early start for portal transfers and freshmen has allowed camaraderie and brotherhood to be developed.

“Even though they’re competing, they’re also really tight knit,” said Walters. “They go fishing all the time together. They hang out together. So, even though they’re competing with one another, because of the amount of time that they spent with each other and how hard they’re working, they’ve gotten really close, as well.”

The offense looks to have few questions. One is an overhauled wideout unit. The other is a rebuilt line that is bigger and deeper.

“I really like our offensive line,” said running back Devin Mockobee. “We got a lot of size and they’re a bunch of really good guys that I think are gonna do really good for us.

“We were very limited in the amount of guys we had on the o-line last year, especially when we started getting injuries. Seeing the depth we have this year, I’m not worried about that at all.”

The defense? It looks to have more to prove after ranking last in the Big Ten in points allowed per game (30.4 ppg) in 2023. What needs to improve?

“Everything,” said Walters. “Obviously, I think we were disruptive and got sacks and takeaways and TFLs. We gave up too many yards, especially through the air, and too many explosive plays. So, we got to get better at everything.”

And that improvement for the defense–and a program coming off a 4-8 season–begins with a fostering of fellowship. It’s Purdue vs. the world.

“Talking about team chemistry and guys genuinely having a relationship with one another as a brotherhood, it’s night and day this year to last year,” said Walters. “So, I think part of that reason is because most of the transfers we brought in except for one got here in January. So, they’ve had a lot of time to sort of gel.

“Whereas, a year ago, most of the guys we brought in were in June and didn’t have a lot of time to get to know each other. So, I think that definitely has been an added value for us.”