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Purdue recruiting news and notes

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•02/17/25•

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Welcome to “Recruiting News and Notes,” GoldandBlack.com’s weekly information clearinghouse, a spot for assorted bits of Purdue news, analysis and so on.

PURDUE FOOTBALL

• Purdue has added a walk-on kicker: Ethan Tibbals, who impressed in a recent try-out. He is a freshman who didn’t play high school football but instead opted to play semi-pro soccer. His mother played soccer at Purdue: Christina (Chrissy) Creamer Tibbals.

• What are Purdue’s spring portal needs? DL, OL and DB would be our best guesses.

• Spoke with some Purdue assistants today. DB coach Charles Clark said he played high school football with former star Boilermaker DE Cliff Avril at Clay High in Green Cove Springs, Fla.

• Purdue has flooded the Class of 2026 with offers. Now, some of those offers are setting up official visits. Known OVs so far:

DL Dereon Albert, June 6-8

RB Kory Amachree, April 18-19

DL Dylan Berymon

DL King Liggins, May 23-25

DL Josiah Hope, June 6-8

TE Cooper McCutchan


RB DeZephen Walker, April 15

• We have switched platforms for Gold and Black Radio listeners (including Drive Home), and some of you may see two options. We are working on eliminating the old one, but please make sure you subscribe to the “new” Gold and Black Radio, which lists current shows. We apologize for the snafu; migrating to a new platform has been challenging. (AK)

PURDUE BASKETBALL RECRUITING

• Purdue has an unofficial visitor of note coming for Wisconsin: Iowa 2026 big man Jaxon Clark of Iowa, one of the post players on their radar for a class in which they’ll maybe/probably take two bigs. Jamyn Sondrup and Trey Thompson are among those who remain priorities, but it is very early still and eyes are wide open.

• Bo Ogden‘s official visit went well. Just would have to be willing to leave Texas for them to get him. We’ll see. But he’d be an excellent fit and his camp’s recognition of that up front is what got Purdue in the mix in the first place.

• On the portal, it’s way too early to speculate on how active Purdue may be there. But it will also depend on attrition, which will hit. This is the year where guys who want to play more could clear out. Size be maned, Braden Smith has an NBA future, but not sure that’s a short-term likelihood given how good college stars have it nowadays.

Purdue’s activity level should space become available may just be guided by how they feel about Raleigh Burgess‘ progress and Daniel Jacobsen‘s recovery, as well as the two freshman guards’ ability to be next season what they weren’t in November and December of this year. And of course the right players being available.

• Luke Ertel scored 31 the other night in Mount Vernon’s 66-58 win over Pike and Boilermaker 2027 center target Isaiah Hill.

• Working on getting Antione West‘s stats for the season. Once Whitmer gets back to us, we’ll add here.

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