As we move into the season, this article will be an actual opponent preview. I don’t want disrespect Indiana State. These dudes work hard and will show up to play. I’ve got nothing but respect for players that still mostly do it for the love of the game. Indiana State’s has a roster full of players who will go pro in something other than football, but they’re out in the heat sweating it out with everyone else. I doubt anyone is buzzing around Terre Haut in a Lambo (shout out Carson Beck, I see him hitting potholes in his Lambo around Athens all the time).
The simple fact is Indiana State is going to lose this game, and there’s nothing they can do about it. No gameplan or mismatch is going to influence the outcome because the gulf in talent is so vast it’s insurmountable. Keep in mind, despite struggling last season, Purdue still knocked off Virginia Tech, Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana while playing Fresno State, Iowa, and Northwestern to one possession games. No, don’t hang the banner, but Indiana State went 1-10 overall, including 41-7 and 45-7 losses to Indiana and Ball State. They played a few more competitive games in the MVFC, but still only managed a single win over Western Illinois.
If you’re a Purdue fan (and I assume most of you are Purdue fans) this game is all about checking out the Boilermakers new toys on both sides of the ball.
What To Watch on Offense
Quarterback
Hudson Card - I don’t anticipate the captain putting in a full shift in this one. In fact, I’d be more than fine with a solid half, maybe even a quarter. That said, Purdue has 3 new starters at wide receiver and Max Klare is back after missing the majority of last season. Card needs to develop in-game chemistry with his new weapons. Ideally, Hudson plays an efficient, clean game that includes a few deep shots to his big guys on the outside. More than anything, he needs to stay upright and healthy while working in the pocket and avoiding the desire to run (and take hits). If he does take off, he needs to find the nearest sideline or slide at the first hint of danger.
Ryan Browne - He could make an interesting goal line / short yardage sub during the season to keep the wear and tear down on Card. This game is all about his passing. If Browne intends to compete for the starting job next season, he’s got to improve his decision making and stop throwing it to the wrong team. Physically, he’s got all the tools. Hopefully the game has slowed down for him in his second season.
Marcos Davila - I expect Big Tex (I’m trying out a few nicknames) to make his college debut on Sunday. He’s different, in terms of skill set, from Card and Browne. He’s less mobile, but has the size to stand in the pocket, shake off defenders and deliver passes down the field. Like Browne, I’m looking for a clean game out of Marcos. That includes all QB/Center exchanges and handoffs. Purdue fans should get a glimpse into the future late in the game on Saturday.
Running Back
Devin Mockobee - Crazy Legs can’t fumble. Reggie Love is on the roster for a reason, and that reason is Mockobee’s fumbleitis. I want to see him get what yards he can and get down when the ride is over. Too many times last season he fumbled at the end of a solid run while straining for an extra 2 feet. Like all the starters, staying healthy, more than anything else, is the main objective for Mockobee on Saturday.
Reggie Love III - Speaking of Love, I was surprised the coaching staff went with a portal back with a similar skill set to Mockobee. Any talk of him being a “replacement for Tyrone Tracy” is misplaced. He’s not that kind of player. He’s here to split caries with Devin while allowing the staff to hedge their bets in case Mockobee turns into a human fumble machine again. Love never averaged over 5 yards a carry during his Illinois career. I’d like to see some explosive runs out of him on Saturday.
Jaheim Merriweather - Expect to see the true Freshman on the field Saturday. At 6’2”, 210, Merriweather doesn’t look like a freshman, and hopefully doesn’t play like one. I want to see him follow his blocks, secure the ball, and prove he can function in pass protection. If he does those 3-things, his first taste of college football will be considered a success.
Elijah Jackson or Addai Lewellen - As I mentioned, Mockobee and Love III are similar backs, and Merriweather is more known for his power than elusiveness. There might be a role for one of Purdue’s small, quick walk-ons this season. You’ll probably see both on Saturday. Whoever proves to be the better receiver could get the first shot at holding down the role.
Offensive Line
I won’t go through the entire line, but needless to say, they need to dominate on Saturday. The tackles need keep Hudson clean and the interior line needs to create a push. This line is supposed to be one of the best and deepest in recent Purdue memory. Good lines squish teams like Indiana State.
These guys need to make a statement.
3 Linemen to Watch
Bakyne Coly - Purdue raised a few eyebrows when they brought in athletic, but super inexperienced and undersized Coly into the fold in 2023. Now it’s 2024 and Coly, a former basketball player transitioning to football, is up to 6’7”, 302 pounds and looks like an NFL tackle. Even if dinged-up Corey Stewart starts the game, Coly will be on the field a good bit. Like the other young guys, I’m look for him to be fundamentally sound, not commit any pre-snap penalties, and keep the quarterback clean. More than anything Coly desperately needs game reps.
Joey Tanona - I didn’t think Tanona would play this season. If you’re unaware of his story, the former 4* offensive lineman out of Zionsville started his career at Notre Dame before a traumatic brain injury sustained in a car accident on the way to practice forced him to medically retire. After getting cleared, he decided to give football another shot, and somehow managed to get back into game shape and up to game weight over the summer and fall (huge shout out to the Purdue training staff). A talent like Tanona is rare on the Purdue offensive line, and he should make his triumphant return to the field on Saturday. He might end up at tackle by the end of his career, but he’ll be on the interior this season.
Joshua Sale Jr. - The Indiana transfer ran hot and cold with the Hoosiers. He started 4 games as a red shirt freshman but then headed back to the bench as a sophom*ore, only appearing in 5 games. He’s a massive human and based on a high school resume that includes letters in football, basketball, wrestling, and track, it sounds like he’s a decent athlete. Like Coly, he should get some extended run on Saturday.
Wide Receiver
Jahmal Edrine - The first game back after a major injury is always a big deal. For Edrine it should be doubly sweet after blowing his knee out in fall camp last season. Not only is this his return from injury, but it’s also his first game as Boilermaker. Word on the street is Edrine is a physical, ruthless playmaker, capable of jumping over or trucking a defensive back.
That’s what I’m looking for in all phases of the game from Edrine. I want to see him physically dominate the Indiana State corners in both the pass and run game. Purdue didn’t have any blocking on the outside last season, and it limited both the run and screen game. Everyone wants to see Jahmal go up and pluck a deep ball out of the air, but I’m just as interested in seeing him putting a few DBs on their rear ends.
Jaron Tibbs - The former hooper was raw last season and probably could have used a redshirt. In this era of college football, however, if you can get a guy on the field, you get him on the field. Stat wise, he didn’t do much damage, putting up his best numbers in a 3 reception, 27-yard performance against I.U.
Even though he didn’t stuff the stat line last season, Tibbs was considered a developmental, high-upside recruit when Purdue signed him in 2023. He’s made good on that promise, grabbing a starting spot on the initial depth chart. Like Edrine, Tibbs, in theory, is a tall, physical receiver, and like Edrine, I want to see him play like a tall, physical receiver in both the run and pass game Saturday.
Shamar Rigby - I didn’t expect a true freshman to start at wide receiver against Indiana State, much less a freshman wide receiver that didn’t hit campus until fall camp. Stil, here we are, with Rigby’s name at the top of the depth chart.
While Edrine and Rigby are more in the physical receiver mold, Rigby is a 6’3”, 190-pound greyhound out of St. Petersburg, Florida. He’s the guy capable of taking the top off the defense and taking the ball to the house from a long way out. Shamar has sneaky, building speed that drives safeties crazy; his long legs eat up ground. Rigby is one of those, “if we’re even, I’m leaving” type of receivers. He’s filling in for fellow Floridian and Georgia transfer CJ Smith, who has elite speed, but a dinged hamstring. Expect Smith to start against Notre Dame if healthy, but a good performance from Rigby on Saturday could snag him a few more snaps on the outside moving forward.
Others to Watch
De’Nylon Morrissette - I want to see Harrel get the ball into Morrissette’s hands in space and see what happens. Out of all the wide receiver, Morrissette (in theory) is the biggest problem with the ball in his hands. He transitions from wide out to running back in half a step. I want to see him in both the screen game and the jet motion run game. For my money, he’s the closest thing to Tyrone Tracy on the roster this season.
Leland Smith - Purdue swooped in late a snagged a premier JuCo receiver out of Houston via Fullerton College. Smith was a late bloomer in high school and took a JuCo year to improve his options. In his one season at Fullerton, he only managed to haul in 26 receptions, but they went for 655 yards and 9 touchdowns. Smith, if nothing else, is highly efficient.
I want to see what this 6’4”, 220-pound monster can do on the endzone on a fade route.
Tight End
Max Klare - It looked like Klare was on his way to being a breakout star for the Boilermakers last season. He led the team in both receptions (8) and yards (64) in the win over Virginia Tech and then went down to a non-contact, season ending knee injury. Max doesn’t need to play much against Indiana State, but it’ll be nice for him to take a couple hits and knock the rust against the Sycamores.
Drew Biber - For those of you who think I disparage the former coaching regime too much, prepare yourself, I’m about to say something nice about Jeff Brohm. While he couldn’t recruit offensive linemen or corners to save his life, like his mentor Bobby Petrino, he had an eye for tight ends.
Not only does Drew Biber have the best version of the name Drew (the An in Andrew does nothing but water down the name), he came up big when Purdue needed him most. Sure, he only had one reception last season, but it came against Indiana, and it occurred in the endzone right before halftime.
The former high school wide receiver has added 30 pounds to his 6’5” frame since arriving on campus in the 2021 class and is ready to put his newly built muscle to work in 2024. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets the most playing time on Saturday with Klare coming off his injury and Burhenn still getting healthy from a camp injury.
George Burhenn - Like Biber, Burhenn saved his best for last, pulling down 5 receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown against Indiana. Walters and company swooped in late in their first recruiting class to snag the fast-rising Burhenn, and for good reason. He’s listed at 6’5”, 240 but runs more like a wide receiver than a tight end, especially with the ball in his hands. He has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field, and that’s not super common in college tight ends. Garrett might kill me, but his playing style, and playing style alone, reminds me a bit of Brock Bowers (again, only in play style, I don’t want this showing up on freezing cold takes).
George was dinged up for the majority of camp, and there was some question if he’d be ready for the opener. Expect to see him with the second and third unit trying to get back to game shape before the Notre Dame showdown. He’s the type of play maker Purdue needs on the field because he can make something out of nothing, and sometimes, nothing is all the Irish defense offers.
