As the calendar inches closer to March, one thing is certain, Purdue football hitting the field is right around the corner.
The Boilermakers unveiled their spring football practice schedule, which will include a spring game at Ross-Ade Stadium at noon on April 13. The event is open to the public and admission is free. The game returns after taking a year off due to renovations at Ross-Ade.
Purdue football will embark on 15 practices during the spring, and the practices will not be open to the public. The Boilermakers will look to improve on last year’s 4-8 campaign under head coach Ryan Walters. Purdue football finished fourth in the Big Ten West and won two of its last three games, including capturing the Old Oaken Bucket against Indiana.
Purdue football brings talent back on both sides of the football
In his first season at the helm last year, Walters showed what Purdue could be capable of on both sides of the football. Offensively, the Boilermakers led the Big Ten in rushing, picking up 184.6 yards per game. Back this season on offense are quarterback Hudson Card, running back Devin Mockobee, and linemen Marcus Mbow and Gus Hartwig.
Defensively, Purdue notched 35 sacks behind the play of linebacker Kydran Jenkins and safety Dillon Thieneman, who was a Third Team All-American, FWAA Defensive Freshman Player of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Coming into this season, Purdue has added 13 players who enrolled early and will also feature 14 transfer portal players in a class that is ranked 13th nationally and second in the Big Ten.
In December, Walters said he believed team chemistry would be better, as will competition this spring.
“Where a lot of our guys a year ago came in the summertime. So I think chemistry will be better. Competition will be better. Spring ball we’ll probably be able to have a spring game because we’ll have the numbers to do so, a couple with the stadium being finished,” Walters said.
Purdue opens the season Aug. 31 against Indiana State and will open Big Ten play Sept. 28 against Nebraska.
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