WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Welcome to the Purdue football offseason blog.
News, notes and takeaways leading up to spring practice, which will likely begin in late February.
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Andy Chelf tells the Journal and & Courier he's decided to leave the program. Chelf is scheduled to graduate in May and isn't sure if he'll continue to play football.
That's nine scholarship players who have decided to transfer with eligibility remaining. All part of the process.
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Safety C.J. Parker announced Monday his decision to leave the program. He suffered a torn ACL early in training camp.
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Another backup has left the program - linebacker Sawyer Dawson, the Journal & Courier has learned.
It's not over yet. More to come.
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Linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley has been added to the Senior Bowl roster, according to Patrick Woo, the event's scouting coordinator/football operations and player personnel.
The All-Star game is Jan. 27 in Mobile, Alabama on the NFL Network.
Bentley is on the North team.
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ICYMI, Purdue has sold nearly 1,000 new football season tickets since Tuesday, the first day tickets went on sale. Interest continues in the Boilermakers.
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Purdue isn't close to naming its 10th assistant coach. I don't know if it's important to have one in place before spring practice. It may depend on if there are changes on the current staff. Stay tuned.
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As of late Tuesday afternoon, Purdue sold 700 new season tickets to the 2018 football season. Tuesday was the first day tickets went on sale.
Purdue announced last week a majority of the ticket prices remain the same coming off a 7-6 season in coach Jeff Brohm's first year.
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Backup running back Jack Wegher is headed elsewhere. In fact, Wegher is already enrolled at Northern Iowa, he said via text Tuesday.
Wegher played in 2016, losing his redshirt season after Gerad Parker took over as interim coach after Darrell Hazell was fired.
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Sophomore cornerback Josh Haynes has announced his decision to leave the program. The Indianapolis native didn't see action last season after appearing in nine games in 2016.
Purdue does lose both starting cornerbacks going into the 2018 season but Hayes likely wasn't going to factor into the mix.
That's six known players with eligibility remaining who have announced they won't return to the program.
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Jeff Brohm conducted an interview with Fort Wayne radio station ESPN 1380 on Monday. He recapped the season, looked ahead to spring practice and answered another question about the Tennessee job.
--On the quarterback competition at spring practice:
Brohm said redshirt freshman Nike Sipe and incoming freshman Jack Plummer will split snaps at the No. 1 quarterback position. David Blough (ankle) and Elijah Sindelar (knee) are coming off surgeries and won't participate in team drills.
"I feel good about Jack Plummer, who we recruited and liked from the get-go," Brohm said on the station. "I think he’s a very polished quarterback who has a lot of unlimited potential. We’re going to give him a lot of opportunities to compete and get a lot of repetitions in the spring.
"He’ll basically split reps with Nick Sipe, a redshirt freshman that was one play away from playing this past year. I thought he had an excellent freshman year. Those two guys will compete to see who gets the upper hand but I like both of them. I think both of them have a chance to be really good players."
Curious no mention of Jared Sparks. Is Sparks a full-time receiver now?
--On the Tennessee job (which Brohm has answered before but hasn't done so with the local media).
"You know how that goes – where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire," Brohm said on the station. "I’m never going to say I’m not going to listen. As I looked at things, I think Purdue is a great spot. It’s exactly where I want to be and there’s plenty of challenges that I’m looking forward to taking head-on.
"We have a chance to grow this program and do it the right away. We have great facilities, great fan support and we want to find a way to win a championship. It’s not going to happen overnight but I know our guys are going to work hard at it. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead and I’m happy to be where I’m at and I’m fired up for the future."
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Running back Brian Lankford-Johnson announced Monday he's transferring. With every running back eligible to return, playing time is going to be difficult to find next season. The only question is Richie Worship, who is coming off ACL surgery.
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Defensive tackle Eddy Wilson announced today what we expected - he will forego his senior season and throw his name into the NFL Draft.
However, Wilson didn't travel with the Boilermakers to the Foster Farms Bowl after first-semester grades were released. Wilson said "It was a credit hour issue; I didn’t pass enough credit hours. I wasn’t paying attention and I didn’t take it as seriously as I should’ve been taking it."
He opted to pursue the NFL at this time instead of trying to come back for the second semester and his senior season.
Wilson finished with 27 tackles and one sack last season.
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Purdue defender Antoine Miles did well at Sunday's Tropical Bowl, per his own Tweet.
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Former Purdue player and assistant coach Kevin Sumlin reportedly set to take over at Arizona.
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Former Purdue offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Terry Malone has been promoted to assistant head coach at Western Michigan.
Malone spent two years at Purdue, moving up to offensive coordinator in Darrell Hazell's final season in 2016.
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USA Today issued grades for all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The Boilermakers earned an A- for their 7-6 season in Jeff Brohm's first year.
Ten teams received A+ and nine teams were given F's.
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Receiver Gregory Phillips made ESPN's All-Bowl team. Phillips had a career day with 14 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona. Phillips also made USA Today's All-Bowl team.
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ROSTER UPDATES
• Walk-on redshirt freshman tight end Wade Buckman announced Monday, Jan. 8 he's transferring to Western Michigan. Buckman is from Holland, Mich.
• Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Tanner Hawthorne announced Dec. 29 he's leaving. Hawthorne has landed at Glendale Community College. Hawthorne is from Glendale, Arizona.
• Freshman offensive lineman Jalen Jackson is no longer with the program. Jackson, along with Hawthorne, have been removed from the team's roster.
• Expect more attrition.
Three signees from the 2018 recruiting class are on campus enrolled in second-semester classes. We profiled Alabama defensive lineman Jeff Marks.
ALL-STAR GAMES
• Danny Ezechukwu is participating in the College Gridiron Showcase through Jan. 10 in Addison, Texas.
• Linebacker T.J. McCollum is expected to participate in the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 20 in Pasadena, California.
• Cornerback Da'Wan Hunte and defensive end Antoine Miles are scheduled to play in the Tropical Bowl on Jan. 14 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Former Purdue quarterback Danny Etling, who finished his career at Louisiana State, is expected to play.
COACHING MOVEMENT
None as of Monday but the AFCA Convention is underway. Stay tuned. Expect some movement.
Programs are announcing the hiring of 10th assistant coaches the NCAA allowed last year.
LOOKING AHEAD
Odds to win the 2018 national championship are out.
Purdue is listed 200-1 by Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and 250-1 by Bovada.lv. Last year, the Boilermakers were in the 500-1 category.
How the Big Ten stacks up in the future odds market (Las Vegas SuperBook)
Ohio State 8-1
Michigan 10-1
Penn State 12-1
Wisconsin, Michigan State 25-1
Northwestern, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota 200-1
Indiana, Rutgers, Illinois, Maryland 500-1
Non-conference opponents:
Eastern Michigan NA
Missouri 100-1
Boston College 500-1
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Speaking of Missouri, quarterback Drew Lock is returning to the Tigers. Lock had a record-breaking year and will bring his talents to Ross-Ade next season.
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