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We’re at the halfway point of the 2019 football season. Injuries have forced a lot of freshmen to play, but some still have the ability to redshirt. That means it is a good time to look at our redshirt tracker for everyone. I have even tried to look at it in regards to older players who have not previously used their redshirt year to try and get a more accurate count. First though, are the true freshmen. Here are the true freshmen that have played and their respective stats:
Da’Joun Hewitt – 1 game – 4 rushes for 9 yards
David Bell – 6 games – 26 receptions, 438 yards, 3 TDs
King Doerue – 6 games – 67 rushes, 226 yards, 3 TDs, 8 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
Milton Wright – 5 games – 6 receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD
TJ Sheffield – 2 games – 2 receptions, 12 yards, 30 kickoff return yards
George Karlaftis – 6 games – 49 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 4 sacks, INT
Jalen Graham – 6 games – 20 tackles
Cam Allen – 5 games – 6 tackles
Marvin Grant – 3 games – 2 tackles
Brooks Cormier – 6 games – 22 punts, 41.5 yard average
Khali Saunders – 1 game – 1 tackle
If a player has played more than four games they cannot redshirt this year, meaning Bell, Doerue, Wright, Karlaftis, Graham, Allen, and Cormier have already burned it this year. Grant is out for the season with a shoulder injury and has thus preserved his redshirt. Sheffield is also currently out and seems likely to preserve his redshirt. That leaves Hewitt and Saunders in somewhat murky territory after they made their career debuts against Maryland. They can play in three more games and still redshirt.
There are a couple of other players to consider as well. Jeff Marks, the sophomore defensive lineman, played extensively last season as a true freshman, but has only played in one game so far (Maryland). He would be able to preserve it and redshirt this year if he played in 3 or fewer remaining games. Rondale Moore can still technically redshirt and return as a sophomore if he does not play again this year. True sophomore Jaylan Alexander has already played in six games and would have his redshirt available later if needed.
Purdue only has two true juniors playing in Cornel Jones and Derrick Barnes. Both are past the four game limit and still have their redshirts available if needed. Then you have the some other cases. Alex Criddle did not play at all as a true sophomore in 2017, so that can technically be his “redshirt” year, meaning he can return next season if he wants as a 5th year senior. Lorenzo Neal has not played at all and is already ruled out next week, too. Since he never used his redshirt if he does not play before the Nebraska game he could potentially return as a fifth year senior next year, too.
Finally, you have the case of Elijah Sindelar and Markus Bailey. Sindelar has already been approved for a sixth year, but has also already gotten his degree. Should Jack Plummer maintain the starting role Sindelar can transfer elsewhere and play immediately if he wishes. Bailey is out for the season and could apply for a sixth year, but seems to be focused on 2020 Draft prep, so I wouldn’t count on him going forward. Richie Worship could theoretically do the same for a 6th year. All three of these are factors in the extremely tight scholarship situation:
Purdue Football Scholarship Grid
Player | Position | ('21-'22) | ('22-'23) | ('23-'24) | ('24-'25) | ('25-'26) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Position | ('21-'22) | ('22-'23) | ('23-'24) | ('24-'25) | ('25-'26) |
Tyler Coyle | S | FREE YEAR | ||||
Greg Long | OL | FREE YEAR | ||||
J.D. Dellinger | K | FREE YEAR | ||||
Anthony Watts | DT | FREE YEAR | ||||
Simeon Smiley | CB | FREE YEAR | ||||
Semisi Fakasiieiki | DE | FREE YEAR | ||||
Jackson Anthrop | WR | FREE YEAR | ||||
Brennan Thieneman | S | FREE YEAR | ||||
Tyler Witt | OL | Grad Transfer | Grad Transfer | |||
Alexander Horvath | RB | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |||
Robert McWilliams | LB/DE | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |||
Dedrick Mackey | DB | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |||
Mark Stickford | OL | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |||
DJ Washington | OL | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |||
Aidan O'Connell | QB | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |||
Austin Burton | QB | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |||
Jaylan Alexander | LB | Junior | Senior | |||
DaMarcus Mitchell | LB | Junior | Senior | |||
Jeff Marks | DT | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Jack Plummer | QB | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Elijah Ball | DB | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Kadin Smith | DB | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Jack Cravaack | DE | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Eric Miller | OT | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Lawrence Johnson | DT | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Will Bramel | OL | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Jimmy McKenna | OL | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
K.J. Stokes | DE | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Branson Deen | DE | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Jack Sullivan | DE | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Cory Trice | DB | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Kory Taylor | WR | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
Payne Durham | TE | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
DJ Johnson | CB | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | ||
George Karlaftis | DE | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | ||
Brooks Cormier | P | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | ||
Cam Allen | CB | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | ||
King Doerue | RB | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | ||
Milton Wright | WR | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | ||
Jalen Graham | DB | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | ||
David Bell | WR | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | ||
TJ Sheffield | WR | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Marvin Grant | DB | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Da'Joun Hewitt | RB | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Mershawn Rice | ATH | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Cam Craig | OL | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Paul Piferi | QB | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Kyle Bilodeau | TE | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Dave Monnot III | OL | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Spencer Holstege | OL | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Dontay Hunter | DE | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Nyles Beverly | CB | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Khali Saunders | LB | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Garrett Miller | TE | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Sulaiman Kpaka | DL | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Steven Faucheux | DT | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Kyle Jornigan | OL | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Jacob Wahlberg | LB | Freshman (RS) | Sophomore (RS) | Junior (RS) | Senior (5) | |
Chase Triplett | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Gus Hartwig | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Jared Bycznski | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Ben Kreul | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Michael Alaimo | QB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Tirek Murphy | RB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Josh Kaltenberger | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Collin Sullivan | WR | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Antonio Stevens | DB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Kydran Jenkins | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Sanoussi Kane | DB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Clyde Washington | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Greg Hudgins | DE | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Marcellus Moore | WR | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Nalin Fox | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Maliq Carr | WR | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Bryce Austin | DT | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen | WR | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Anthony Romphf | DB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Ryan Brandt | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Jaelin Alstott-VanDeVanter | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Preston Terrell | WR | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Tristan Cox | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Rickey Smith | ATH | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Brandon Calloway | DB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Zach Richards | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Khordae Sydnor | DE | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Deion Burks | WR | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Mahamane Moussa | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Ja'Quez Cross | ATH | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Drew Biber | TE | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Jah'Von Grigsby | DB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Yanni Karlaftis | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Marcus Mbow | OL | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Brady Allen | QB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Dominack Moon | LB | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Yearly Limit Used (25 Max) | ||||||
Total Scholarships Left | 1 | -1 | 9 | 32 | 83 | |
Total Scholarships Used | 84 | 86 | 76 | 53 | 2 |
In the extremely unlikely scenario where Criddle, Sindelar, Worship, Bailey, and Neal all return for their respective 5th or 6th years Purdue would right now be 6 over the limit. That seems very, very unlikely, especially when Purdue is still out recruiting for 2020. Nalin Fox’s commitment this past weekend gives us a 19 man incoming class counting greyshirt Chase Triplett. That also has us close to the 25 man single-year limit.
It does seem that there is some wiggle room if Brohm is still recruiting, so that means departures and transfers. I’m not going to speculate on who that would be, but I am sure everyone has ideas.
Will we see any other freshmen play? Mershawn Rice has been mentioned as a possibility., Cam Craig is currently on the depth chart, but has not played. Garrett Miller has been mentioned as a possibility, but has not played yet. The same with Kyle Bilodeau. It likely all depends on how the next two games go. After Illinois, the rest of the true freshmen can play without redshirt consequences, so we could see even more later on.