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Today is our first double-player day, as we have two players listed at No. 86 on the roster. The first is a standout sophomore wide receiver from Louisville Trinity HS.
Noah Ellison - So.
Louisville, KY (Trinity HS)
6’, 190 pounds
Wide Receiver
2019 Projection: Deep Reserve at Wide Receiver
No, he is not THAT standout sophomore receiver from Louisville Trinity high school. Noah Ellison is in his third year in the program after redshirting in 2017 and not seeing any action last season. He was, however, a teammate of Rondale Moore on a team that won the 2016 State Championship in Kentucky. In the 56-21 title game win over Lafayette he caught four passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. For his performance against Louisville Male in the fall of 2016 he was named a USA Today top star, as he caught seven passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-34 win.
Hunter MacDonald - Fr.
Crown Point, IN (Crown Point HS)
6’3”, 230 pounds
Long Snapper
2019 Projection: Possible starter at Long Snapper
The graduation and departure of Ben Makowski means a starting spot is wide open as a specialist, and MacDonald might be that player. MacDonald comes to Purdue as a preferred walk-on because of the growing field of specialization in long snapping. Long Snappers have become just as specialized as kickers and punters in college football, and spacial camps have grown significantly int he past 10-15 years to hone these skills.
MacDonald stood out in this field, as he got the Top Prospect Award from the Ray Guy pro kicker.com site and was a top rated project from Kornblue Kicking:
“Because other guys were more gifted, I’ve always worked harder, so I could compete,” MacDonald said. “Not getting a lot of reps my sophomore and junior years (at Crown Point) caused me to work even harder. I want to be the best I can be to help my team win.”
MacDonald only started during his senior season last year at Crown Point, as he was behind Jake Yelich, who committed to Alabama as a long snapper and eventually moved to Tennessee.
Many long snappers enter as walk-ons, but if MacDonald seizes the starting job this fall expect him to eventually be placed on scholarship.