Purdue Football Recruiting: Dead Last in the B1G for 2021

Have we lost all of the momentum that was built in 2017 and 2018? Especially with recruiting; the classes from 2018, 2019 and 2020, all were top 50 classes, with the 2019 class ranking 26th.

After this class was solidified, it sure as heck seems like all of the momentum, that now seems so long ago, is out the window.

The 2021 official count.

14th in the Big Ten. 75th in the nation.

Darrell Hazell never had a class rank as low as 75th. His worst? His last season at Purdue before being fired, it was 73rd in the nation.

75th.

Ouch. I can’t get that number out of my head.

So, I will answer your next question. Are there any power 5 schools ranked lower than us this year?

Sure, there are a few.

South Carolina, who is going through a coaching transition, Texas Tech (the, what, 5th best team in Texas?), and Oregon State (who is just terrible).

That is it.

Three.

75th.

How can Jeff Brohm sell this to the fans? A fan base that has openly backed him. An Athletic Department that made him a top 15 paid coach in the nation, so he doesn’t leave for Louisville. We are ALL itching for success.

He gives us, a season with Bob Diaco. The 75th best recruiting class in the nation. Lastly, an entirely new defensive staff aside from Coach Poindexter.

The excuse? He wants to monitor the transfer market.

Sorry, what?

The 2018 class was 49th in the nation.

The 2019 class was 26th in the nation.

The 2020 class was 32nd in the nation.

The 2018 class is going into their 4th year this fall. 2019, the best class of them all, 3rd year.

But, we are going to gauge the transfer market more?

Man. In what was a terrible year, a team that appeared unmotivated. It just seems like we are losing any traction we may have gained from years ago.

Quarterback is still unsolved. The offensive line is a continued puzzle. We are on our 3rd defensive coordinator in 3 years. The 2nd overhaul of defensive position coaches in 2 years.

All while the rest of the Division 1 schools in the state of Indiana are thriving.

Ball State won the MAC.

IU has put together back to back great seasons, this year being highly ranked.

Notre Dame appeared in the College Football Playoff.

We go 2-4, play uninspired football and sign the 75th class in the nation - in hopes that we will get some transfers.

While in 2017 and 2018 it seemed like we were distancing ourselves from the Hoosiers. They are now light years ahead of us. The cherry on top? Tom Allen is doing it with no class ranked higher than 36th in the past 4 years.

We have two. I hate IU as much as anyone else that is reading this, but it is hard to ignore the success of whatever Tom Allen is selling and not be envious of it.

What is our identity? What is our culture?

It seems like the Lets Play Football mantra has died off. ‘Maybe’ Lets Play Football?

The fiery pregame speeches. The Trick Plays. The excitement on the sidelines from 2018 seems a decade ago.

So, in 2021. Can all of this be recaptured? Or will it continue to snowball? In 2022 will we be the last P5 ranked team in recruiting? Will we be multiple games under 500 again?

2021 is time to put it all out there.