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.