Purdue Football Recruiting Scholarship Grid Update

Jimmy McKenna made it 14 commitments yesterday, which is quite a run for Jeff Brohm. Like I pointed out last week, having this many commitments this early is unprecedented for Purdue. Sure, we don’t have any 4- or 5-star commitments, but we have a solid class of guys that look promising and are in the mold of guys that had success under Brohm at Western Kentucky.

But where are we on scholarships? That is often a closely guarded secret for programs, but from what I have been able to research, here is the current situation.

First, concerning the upcoming season, Purdue is still one over the limit. The latest departures were earlier this week when Jalen Neal and Malik Kimbrough were announced as likely not returning. Neal was Darrell Hazell’s stopgap solution at left tackle last season that didn’t work. Kimbrough was supposed to be an ace punt returner, but fell out of favor and was barely used after Hazell was fired. He did catch 10 passes for 72 yards and had a 45 yard TD reception at Illinois.

Both players were seniors this coming fall, so their departure only helps for the 2017 season. For 2018 Purdue is projected at 84 scholarships with the 14 commitments on the board. That leaves a single open spot.

Of course, there will still be some attrition. There needs to be at least one for this fall. Dave Steinmetz, T.J. McCollum, and Josh Okonye each only have one season of eligibility, so they take the spots for Kimbrough, Neal, and the previously departed Johnny Daniels. All three of them were expected to be seniors this fall with a year of eligibility, but none of them were expected to play much. Steinmetz, McCollum, and Okonye should all play a lot.

Here are some players to keep an eye on. Bear in mind, this is 100% speculation and based on no inside information whatsoever.

Dezwan Polk-Campbell – Polk-Campbell did graduate in the spring and can transfer freely anywhere and play immediately. He hasn’t played a lot in his career and moved to safety in the spring, but there isn’t projected to be much playing time for him.

Keyante Green – The former 4-star recruit ended up in Hazell’s doghouse and has been nowhere near the field for the past two seasons. He does not have his degree yet, but if he finishes it over the summer he could be gone. If not, he has to drop down to at least FCS to play in his final season.

Will Colmery – Colmery has yet to play in his first three season and missed last year due to a freaking ruptured brain tumor. There are still questions on if he could even be cleared to play in a game. There is a very strong chance he gets moved onto a medical scholarship and taken off the active roster. That would open up a spot for both 2017 and 2018 since he is a redshirt junior this fall.

Andy Chelf – Chelf has had bad luck since coming to Purdue. He missed a year with a torn ACL, then was shot after the spring game this year and that has put his career in jeopardy. He has three years of eligibility remaining, but after that shooting incident. Who knows what will happen.

Elijah Sindelar – The former highly touted quarterback has three years left, but it looks like David Bloguh has the starting job locked down for the next two. In fact, in the spring Jared Sparks was closer to challenging him for the No. 2 job than Sindelar was closer to Blough. If Sparks becomes the backup would Sindelar go elsewhere, especially with Griffin Alstott and Nicholas Sipe coming this fall? He has three years of eligibility remaining this fall and has already used his redshirt.

Sindelar is likely the biggest stretch of guessing here if someone could leave or not, but I could see it happening. The thing is, attrition is expected and in the case of the 2017 season, it is needed for at least one guy. It is going to happen. It will likely come over the summer here after workouts and such.

We’ll see where it goes.