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Recruiting News and Notes

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•01/18/25•

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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 will host a Junior Day on January 25, which will come on the heels of a home basketball game vs. Michigan the day before. A raft of 2026 prospects should be on hard for the event, the first big recruiting soirée of the Barry Odom era. Among the known visitors:

-Cathedral LB Kyle Harden

-Downers Grove North DE Aiden Solecki

-Ben Davis DB Robert Reddick

-Portage Central ATH Charlie Jilek

-Lapel QB Devin Craig

• 2026 St. Louis University High RB Jordan Taylor tells us he will visit Purdue Feb. 1. The 5-10, 182-pound Taylor has offers from the likes of Nebraska, UCF and Toledo so far, in addition to Purdue.

Taylor tore an ACL his sophomore year, bounced back as a junior last season. He could see his recruitment blow up. But know this: Purdue has a legit shot right now.

Taylor ran for 1,244 yards in 2024, with 16 catches for 167 yards. It was the most rushing yards in the program since 2016.

“I’m interested in them as much as they are in me,” Taylor told GoldandBlack.com. “I can’t wait to build a strong relationship with the staff at Purdue.”

• How many players will Purdue sign on February 5th, the next time 2025 recruits can get on board? Don’t expect a big haul … maybe 2-3. Keep these three 2025s on your radar.

K Cooper Helmke, St Martin’s Episcopal in New Orleans
OL Cameron Gorin, Hamilton Southeastern High in Fishers, Ind.
RB Cornelius Warren, North Crowley High in Fort Worth, Texas (UNLV commit)

• Purdue absolutely needs another kicker. For now, the only one on campus is sophomore Spencer Porath, and he is a work-in-progress after hitting just 7-of-11 field-goal attempts in his 2024 debut. After going 0-of-2 at Ohio State, Porath lost his job to Ben Freehill and didn’t attempt a kick the last three games.

Purdue needs an older portal kicker with Porath to handle kickoffs or field goals in 2025. Then, when Porath is a junior in 2026, Purdue can get another freshman and should be set for an every two-year reload of a fresh kicker.

Helmke has a Purdue offer, in addition to a recent one from Tulane, among others.

• Warren is a 5-10, 175-pound multi-purpose weapon at this level. Not sure what Purdue would do with the UNLV commit or if the staff is bringing him in. He has no visit planned for now.

• Gorin is the intriguing one. He hasn’t decided anything yet, but he is in contact constantly with Purdue staffers. But no definitive decision yet, with Louisville, Indiana, Vandy, BC and Minnesota among his other top offers. Gorin, the son of former Purdue OL Brandon Gorin, isn’t going anywhere until June. He is just training now. Gorin was set to sign with Purdue in December before the coaching change.

• Purdue’s 11 2025 signees:

Purdue signees: DE Landon Brooks; RB Ziaire Stevens; CB Zyntreacs Otey; RB Jaron Thomas; LB Sam Steward

UNLV flips: DE Mason Alnutt, S Antonio “Juju” Parker, S Vi’Naz Cobb, TE Jon Grimmett, LB Parker Meese, QB Garyt Odom.

The father of Arkansas portal QB Malachi Singleton breaks down his son.

• Will Purdue add a fourth portal QB? It is an interesting question. Most staffs like to have five scholarship signal-callers.

Purdue already has imported three from the portal: Washington State’s Evans Chuba; UCF’s  EJ Colson; Arkansas’ Malachi Singleton (see above video to learn more about Singleton). None has much measurable experience. Is Purdue OK rolling with that trio, along with incoming freshman Garyt Odom? (Bennett Meredith is on the roster, but he’s expected to graduate and leave this spring).

Would it be wise to bring in a veteran QB with starting experience? Or should the staff just roll with the young guys, see what it has and develop them … knowing the 2025 season is going to be a wash anyway with a program in transition facing another daunting schedule?

A veteran portal QB would be expensive. And, what will be available?

• Portal additions are on pause with classes starting in West Lafayette on Monday. The staff has as late as tomorrow to get anyone in school, but there’s not much available out there at the moment. So, it’s not looking likely.

Purdue has added 29 players from the portal. But, needs remain. Would expect 6-7 more portal additions in the spring. Our wish list:

QB: 1

RB: 0

TE: 1

WR: 1

OL: 2

DT: 1

DE: 1

LB: 1

DB: 1

K: 1

Portal additions by position: 29 additions

QUARTERBACK (3)

Player, school
Evans Chuba, Washington State
EJ Colson, UCF
Malachi Singleton, Arkansas

RUNNING BACK (1)

Player, school
Malachi Thomas, Virginia Tech

FULLBACK (1)

Player, school
Christian Moore, UNLV

RECEIVERS (5)

Player, school
EJ Horton, Florida Atlantic
Nathan Leacock, Tennessee
Chauncey Magwood, UCF
Isaiah Myers, Charlotte
Charles Ross, USC

TIGHT END (2)

Player, school
Christian Earls, UNLV
Luca Puccinelli, Wake Forest

OFFENSIVE LINE (4)

Player, school
Hank Purvis, UNLV
Jalen St. John, UNLV
Giordano Vaccaro, University of Manitoba
Mason Vicari, UNLV

DEFENSIVE LINE (3)

Player, school
E Breeon Ishmail, Michigan
E/T TJ Lindsey, Auburn
E CJ Nunnally, Akron

LINEBACKER (3)

Player, school
Carson Dean, Arkansas
Mani Powell, UNLV
Alex Sanford, Arkansas

DEFENSIVE BACK (6)

Player, school
CB Chad Brown, Nevada
CB Tony Grimes, UNLV
S Tahj Ra-El, Memphis
S Richard Toney, TCU
CB Ryan Turner, Boston College
S Crew Wakley, BYU

SPECIALIST (1)

Player, school
P Sam Dubwig, Arkansas

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

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