Purdue Football Recruiting: Crucial Weekend of Visits

The patented Jeff Brohm June recruiting push is underway with a bevy of talented players making their official Purdue visits this weekend.

The Boilermakers are at the bottom of the Big10 in terms of recruiting numbers right now, but June has been a fertile month for this coaching staff. I wouldn’t be surprised if Purdue adds a couple quality players to the 2020 class after this weekend.

Who’s On Campus?

Chris Mayo

Mayo, a 6’5, 325 pound, 247 composite 3* (89) (Rivals 4*) offensive guard from the Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ, is one of two New Jersey natives on campus this weekend. Purdue is putting a premium on interior linemen this class, and Mayo would be a huge get for the Boilermakers.

Mayo visited Kentucky in April and has a visit scheduled with West Virginia next weekend. Those two school appear to the be Purdue’s biggest competition for Mayo’s signature. Purdue will have to wait on Mayo, but getting him on campus is huge.

Max Melton

Melton joins fellow Garden State resident Mayo in West Lafayette this weekend. Melton is a 5’11, 165 pound, 247 composite 3*(85) star wide receiver from Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor New Jersey. I don’t think there are many wide receiver slots in this class, but if Melton wants one, he can claim one.

Melton is Rutgers legacy, both of his parents were athletes at Rutgers, and his older brother Bo is a junior wide receiver for the Scarlett Knights. Even with his tight connections with Rutgers, Purdue is thought to be a major player, possibly even the favorite, for Melton. He is one of the fastest wide receivers in the nation, and could fit in nicely as a slot receiver in Purdue’s offense.

Garnett Hollis Jr.

Hollis (pictured w/ Antonio Stevens), a 6’1, 180 pound, 247 composite 3*(86) corner back out of Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, TN, will visit West Lafayette with his teammate, and fellow Purdue target Antonio Stevens. Purdue has prioritized tall corners under Jeff Brohm / Nick Holt, and Hollis would continue that trend.

Hollis visited Northwestern in May and they are considered the favorite. Purdue, however, will have every chance to change his mind this weekend. The Boilermakers have started to build a nice little pipeline to the Volunteer state and adding a player like Hollis would only help to cement Purdue’s footprint in Tennessee. Adding both Hollis and Stevens would be an incredible boost for Purdue’s secondary.

Antonio Stevens

Stevens (pictured with Garnett Hollis Jr.) is a 6’2, 185 pound, 247 composite 3* (86) S/WR prospect out of Battle Ground High School in Franklin, Tennessee. Stevens is talented to play either S or WR in college, but I think he’s a safety at Purdue, just based on Purdue’s recruiting needs.

This appears to be a showdown between Purdue and Louisville for the talented Tennessee athlete. I’m hopeful that Purdue’s off field domination of the Cardinals continues. Adding Stevens to the impressive group of safeties The Boilermakers signed in the 2019 class would make a previously thin position at Purdue a strength. That’s how you build a team.

Deondre Buford

Buford, a 6’5, 275 pound, 247 composite 3* (88) offensive tackle out of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit Michigan, will be on campus this weekend. Purdue is hoping to pull another exceptional talent out of Martin Luther King High School after adding Buford’s teammate Marvin Grant in the 2019 class.

While interior lineman may be the priority for Purdue in the 2020 class, Buford would be an instant take at offensive tackle. Buford visited Kentucky in May, and the Wildcats are considered to be the favorites to land the athletic lineman, but Purdue getting him on campus for an official visit means the Boilermakers are a true threat. West Lafayette isn’t a place a player burns a visit to if they aren’t seriously interested in the program. With in-state options limited in the 2020 class, Purdue needed to raid Michigan for top end talent, adding Buford would be a coup in the recruiting world.

Marcus Harper

Harper, a 6’4, 290 pound, 247 composite 3* (86) offensive guard prospect out of Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois will be on campus this weekend. As I’ve mentioned several time, Purdue is stressing interior linemen in this class, and Harper is one of the best in the midwest.

The Boilermakers need to make a big impression on the former Illinois commit this weekend because he has an official visit with Oregon scheduled next weekend. The Ducks are considered the odds on favorite to secure Harper’s services, but Purdue has both opportunity and location to sell. He still probably ends up heading to the Pac12, but Purdue is going to do their absolute best to keep him in the midwest.