Purdue Football Recruiting: Tuesday Update

Hi everyone, just a few quick recruiting updates as July trudges along.

Purdue Adds Max Melton

This is how recruiting is supposed to work. Purdue identified a prospect (Melton), got the prospect on campus for an official visit, withstood a late run from a legitimate threat (Rutgers), and secured the verbal commitment.

This was an A+ job by the coaching staff, who have had their share of misses in this class. Melton fills one of the two (in my opinion) remaining corner slots in this class. Ideally they find a bigger corner prospect to play outside. I see Melton as a nickel back that could potentially grow into a field corner.

Purdue needs a bigger corner to compete on the boundary against the influx of 6’3+ receivers in the Big10. Garnett Hollis was the #1 option for that slot, but he committed to Northwestern. At this point, I’m not sure who Purdue is looking at to fill the spot with Hollis off the board. It’s possible they let it ride and add an extra CB in the next class.

Michigan to the Rescue

As I’ve mentioned before, this is a bad year for Purdue in terms of the recruiting map. Indiana and Kentucky just don’t have the same depth in talent they’ve had in recent years. The staff has successfully raided the northeast, but the midwest is always going to be Purdue’s bread and butter in terms of recruiting.

Purdue is in great shape with both Bryce Austin (3*(86) DT) and Maliq Carr (4*(90) WR) out of Michigan. Adding those two players would fill two major holes in the recruiting class.

Purdue Solid with Marcellus Moore

Moore, out of Plainfield North in Illinois, is one of the more interesting prospects in this recruiting class. He’s tiny (5’6, 150) but incredibly fast and quick. He has a laser timed 4.35 40 yard dash and a 4.27 shuttle on his resume. This little dude can fly.

Moore is listed as a running back, but in reality, Brohm would deploy him all over the field, similar to how he uses Rondale. Purdue hosted Moore for an official and the 247 Crystal ball is trending the Boilermakers way. This would likely put Purdue out of the running for Alabama speed demon Jaylen Stinson (who Purdue also hosted) but it was also going to be an either/or situation with Moore and Stinson.

Class Numbers?

This is an ongoing debate amongst Purdue fans. If Purdue adds Carr, Austin, and Moore, that puts the 2020 class at 16. I think Purdue will add at least 1 more DE, DT, and CB to this class, putting the class at 19. This class could eventually creep up to 20 or 21 players when all is said and done.

I know that doesn’t make sense if you look at the scholarship grid but that’s how football recruiting works these days.