Recruiting News and Notes
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PURDUE FOOTBALL RECRUITING
• So, what is Purdue getting in Drayden Pavey, who committed on Wednesday? The 6-3, 305-pound Cincinnati Taft High product is a pure nose tackle, a big, wide body with good strength. Pavey plays with good agility and feet for his size. He plays the run well and has a relentless motor, able to push the pocket in the pass game. Explosive with a good first step. What player of recent Purdue vintage does he compare to? Lorenzo Neal (2016-20).
• 2025 QB commit Sawyer Anderson works with Landry Klann of QB Country, a quarterback training and development company with sites across the nation. He traveled to Mobile, Ala., for an elite outing last month with 10 other quarterbacks, including George MacItyre (Tennessee commit), K.J. Lacey (Texas commit), Deuce Knight (Notre Dame commit), among others.
• Below is a look at the six 2025 recruits still on Purdue’s board. If ranked from 1-6–from most likely to least likely to commit–it would look thusly:
1 – ILB Sam Steward
2 – OL Kuol Kuol
3 – ILB Grant Beerman
4 – Rush end Eli Jones
5 – CB Dawayne Galloway
6 – CB Seaonta Stewart
-Steward is all but committed after Purdue fell in love with him late in the process. He told us he will announce either late July or early August after he visits West Lafayette. Purdue likes Steward’s speed.
-Kuol Kuol took two OVs: Purdue and BC. He also landed a late offer from Michigan State. When will he decide? Kuol Kuol told us it will be in early August. Purdue looks like the pick. LATE NOTE: ON THURSDAY (JULY 10), HE COMMITTED TO PURDUE.
–Beerman announced he would attend Purdue late last week. . It was four-school derby: Purdue, West Virginia, Michigan State and Cincinnati. We feel good about Purdue’s chances. Beerman has been to West Lafayette multiple times.
-Can’t get a read on Jones, who is a South Florida commit.
–Galloway also committed to Purdue on July 5. It’s Purdue vs. Kentucky. We would not be surprised either way. He committed to Purdue and then committed to UK. Last we heard late last week, he was close to being back in with Purdue. But, who knows? Hold on to your hat with this one. Galloway will announce on July 15.
-Purdue cooled its pursuit of Stewart after it thought it had Mason Alexander (Pitt commit) and Galloway. Now? Stewart could land at IU. He’ll announce on July 8.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
• Hudson Card was asked back to be a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy for a second year. We are told it was fun for him to hangout with all the other QB counselors … a little fraternity, if you will. Some of the fellow counselors included Georiga’s Carson Beck, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, among others.
FYI: Card was banged up for four games in the middle of last year, ultimately missing the tilt at Northwestern on Nov. 18 (23-15 loss). Card almost missed the game at Iowa on Oct. 7 (20-14 loss). It is thought Card couldn’t lift his arms above his head on Thursday before the trip to Iowa City. He hit 25-of-40 passes for 247 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions vs. the Hawkeyes. He was sacked six times.
An improved–and deeper–line should better protect Card in 2024. And a deeper, more talented, wideout room should help, too.
Injuries plagued the offense in 2023:
Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen – after hot start, out after fourth game with knee which bothered him all year
Max Klare – out with ankle injury middle of season
Garrett Miller – was coming off knee and was slow coming back
Andrew Sowinski – groin issue all year
Jahaml Edrine – knee out all year
Deion Burks – was good all year but ideal position was slot and was forced to play on outside
Offensive line – injuries everywhere (Gus Hartwig, Marcus Mbow, Mahamane Moussa, Josh Kaltenberger, Luke Griffin). Down to third-string many places
