Recruiting News and Notes

Welcome to “Recruiting News and Notes,” GoldandBlack.com’s weekly information clearinghouse, a spot for assorted bits of Purdue news, analysis and so on and so forth, intended for GoldandBlack.com members and GoldandBlack.com members only. We do respectfully ask that you please do your best to keep proprietary info shared here within the confines of this site.

PURDUE BASKETBALL RECRUITING

So, Purdue’s 2025 search, at least the early part, comes down to Sebastian Williams-Adams, who has kind of been pegged for Kansas for some time, but there’s some reason to believe here that maybe Kansas has more robust seafood in its pan.

Maybe there’s an opening there, but even if there is, Purdue would still have to beat out a bunch of places closer to his Houston home. He’s also visited Texas A&M, SMU, Auburn, Oklahoma State and still may have Baylor in the hopper. Williams-Adams was as interested in Purdue as Purdue was in him when this all started, and things just kind of took off and led to his official visit a few weeks back. It did seem like kind of a flier of an offer in the first place.

He liked Purdue for a lot of reasons that are all still there. He is said to be a Purdue sort of guy for whom academics matter and competition is not a concern. But needless to say, there’s going to be money out there for him, should that be a factor.

We’d be surprised if Purdue got him, but things have come this far, so you never know.

Anyway, if Purdue doesn’t get a frontcourt guy early — SWA being the last possibility we know of — then we’d expect them to hit pause ’til the spring. That could mean a dip into the portal. This would a multi-year-compatible spot, so two- or three-year guys could be in play in addition to the one-year type. So, too, would the option to just pocket the spot for 2026. (BN)

PURDUE FOOTBALL

With speculation and conjecture swirling around Ryan Walters‘ future, let’s take a look at his contract.

If Walters is dismissed without cause, Purdue would owe him 75 percent of his base compensation. Walters is due to make $4.1 million in 2025, $4.15 million in 2026 and $4.2 million in 2027. So, 75 percent of that would amount to a buyout of $9,337,000 (75 percent of $12,450,000) for the three remaining years. That amount would be distributed in monthly installments until the end of the contract on Dec. 31, 2027.

In addition to taking care of Walters, Purdue also would be on the hook for three of the 10 countable assistants: offensive coordinator Graham Harrel, defensive coordinator Kevin Kane and special teams coordinator Chris Petrilli, the lone assistants whose contracts run through 2025. A look at the language to address the issue in each contract.

For now, Purdue must pay $1 million for the third and final contract year (2025) of Harrell, who was let go after the Nebraska game. But if Walters is dismissed, Purdue would owe Harrell only 90 days of base salary and benefits from the day of Walters’ dismissal.

The same would go for Kane ($850,000 salary for 2025) and Petrilli ($250,000 salary for 2025), who again are the only other countable 10 assistants under contract for 2025.

Paying off the outgoing staff would be just part of what would be a considerable bill to make a coaching change. Bottom line: It could cost at least $11 million to sweep out the Walters’ regime.

Then there is the matter of the new staff. No doubt, Purdue probably will have to pay more per year than the roughly $4 million Walters makes annually to its next coach (who may want a six-year deal).

Walters had $5.5 million to spend on 10 assistants and a strength coach. You can bet the new coach will want more for his staff … $7 million? New coordinators figure to cost as much as $1 million per year each. And there is the matter of buyouts for coaches on the next staff, too.

All this, on top of beginning revenue sharing (a $22 million commitment) with athletes next year.

PURDUE FOOTBALL RECRUITING

• As the season disintegrates, the de-commitments continue. Purdue has now seen three members of its 2025 class de-commit: OL Takhyian Whitset, WR Lebron Hill and CB Dawayne Galloway. Purdue also has seen 2026 QB Oscar Rios de-commit.

Whitset and Galloway are On3 four-star recruits. And some services laude Rios as a four-star. Bottom line: These were some of the most prized commitments Purdue had.

The question begs: How many more players will de-commit? The 2025 class has dwindled to 11 commitments, ranking 68th in the nation by On3 and last in the Big Ten.

MORE: 2025 Purdue commitments

• As you would suspect, it’s tough for Purdue to get traction with a lot of recruits right now. The staff did recently offer 2026 Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic WR Preston Fryzel. Purdue is beginning to work on bye week recruiting plans for the week (Oct. 20-26) after the Oct. 18 Oregon game.

PURDUE BASKETBALL

• Can’t underscore this enough now so there are no surprises come December: This third ball-handler thing is real and its influence could go so far as to affect the starting five. It remains to be seen, but whether it’s Gicarri Harris or CJ Cox, you’re going to see one of ’em out there with Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer and not just in place of one of them. Who this affects, well, it is going to put the onus on Myles Colvin to make himself as hard to take off the floor as possible, presumably. (BN)