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Every year there are a handful of walk-ons that bust through to make an unexpected contribution. That could be today’s player.
Wade Buckman – Fr. (RS)
Holland, MI (Holland HS)
6’6”, 232 pounds
Tight End
2017 Projection: Possible contributor at tight end
While Cole Herdman and Brycen Hopkins have the top two spots on the depth chart locked down at tight end, Buckman had a solid spring to earn some favor with the coaches. He got quite a few snaps in the spring game and even caught three passes for 47 yards. Considering how much the offense struggled in the spring, those are good numbers.
Buckman was originally a quarterback at Holland HS in Michigan. Here is what his hometown paper had to say about him:
“But then Purdue came along, and we went there and visited, and it was everything I wanted. It is closer to home, and it isn't a nine-hour drive like Minnesota would be. It seemed like the perfect match for me. That’s what made my decision. It is close to home, it is a Big Ten school and I have a great opportunity to play there. It was a tough decision, but I’m happy with the decision I made.”
He was recruited as a quarterback or tight end, but it appears he has made a home at TE.