Recruiting Train Keeps Rolling

Despite a 4-8 finish in an injury plagued year Purdue coach Jeff Brohm showed as long as he’s wearing black and gold West Lafayette will be nationally relevant when it comes to recruiting. Brohm’s staff put together a solid class before National Signing Day but had a busy finish flipping several big recruits on their way to 26th finish ahead of the February final day.

Of the 21 signed players the Boilermakers added four more 4* players; WR Maliq Carr, WR Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (a big flip from Northwestern), DE Greg Hudgins and QB Michael Alaimo. Some recruiting sites had RB Tirek Murphy as a 4* as well. They join the six 4* players from last season as Brohm is bringing in talent that hasn’t been seen since Coach Tiller.

Just as important as the talent in the class is the fact that Brohm’s staff flipped JUCO LB DaMarcus Mitchell and CB Geovonte Howard while also flipping Yaseen from Northwestern and CB Geovonte Howard from FAU. Purdue continues to recruit well in Michigan with five commitments this season. Three players from New Jersey will come to West Lafayette but that will be an area to watch. Purdue has done well there with Rutgers down but with Greg Schiano taking up the helm again it will be a battlefield again.

Coach Brohm said linebackers and the offensive line were the areas of focus. The Boilers brought in five linebackers and four offensive linemen. Four WR were brought as well to join David Bell, a healthy Rondale Moore and big recruits Milton Wright, Mershawn Rice and TJ Sheffield to give the Boilermaker offense a ton of options on offense.

The big news outside of recruiting was Elijah Sindelar announcing he’s done playing football in West Lafayette despite being granted a sixth year of eligibility. Alaimo is the highest recruited QB for Brohm to go along with solid showings from Jack Plummer and Aiden O'Connell this season, and redshirt Paul Piferi. Purdue is still in on 4* QB Malik Hornsby and there are rumors that tie former 4* QB Justin Rogers who entered the transfer portal from TCU.

Brohm is 17-21 and 1-1 in bowl games after his third season in West Lafayette, and despite the dumpster fire of a team he has taken over the heat may turn up a bit on the coach. AD Mike Bobinski has put his money where his mouth is in supporting Brohm. Purdue continues to bring in more and more talent and needs to take a step forward. That would seem to be a big factor in why DC Nick Holt was let go.

Purdue has been on the wrong end of the transfer portal as well, especially on the defensive side and the criticism has fallen on Holt. Reviews of his tenure graded him as un-creative with his formations and very rigid in his use of depth. In the age of the transfer portal coaching staffs have to find ways to get players on the field or else lose them. Purdue’s defense was far from dominate so there wasn’t an excuse not to see what players can do besides injuries forcing the issue. The DC search continues and Brohm has said it will be a very detailed process.

Brohm’s staff has brought in a ton of talent, especially in these last two classes, but now need to show they can build to the next level. The Big Ten West has been open behind Wisconsin, and Minnesota’s great season ought to put more pressure on the West Lafayette staff. The class right now is only behind Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska in the Big Ten. It’s time to show it.

It will be another young team in West Lafayette with a tough schedule for 2020; Memphis, Air Force and at Boston College in the non-conference. In Big Ten play Purdue starts at Nebraska with road games against Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Indiana with Rutgers, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa at home. I believe in Brohm but 6-6 should be the minimum and with the way his staff recruits this team needs to take steps forward.