Ahead of the second week of fall camp, Purdue football coach Ryan Walters acknowledged bumps and bruises are starting to take a toll on his team ahead of the Aug. 31 season opener against Indiana State.
“We’ve got a couple guys who are dinged up. Normal football wear and tear through four really hard practices,” Walters said. “What I will say is our guys are getting after it. We’re not having to coach or correct effort or physicality, so when you practice that way, football in nature is tough. It’s a physical sport. You’re going to have some minor issues.”
Walters pointed to the work of strength and conditioning coach Kiero Small as a reason why he isn’t overly concerned about the injuries, noting that everything is “minor.”
“Luckily, I think we’ve got the best strength coach in the world in Kiero Small and he’s prepared their bodies to be able to do the things we’re asking them to do.. They are minor issues. If we had a game today, a lot of those guys would be playing, but we don’t have a game today and we want their bodies fresh for August 31,” said Walters, alluding to the season opener against Indiana State.
Several of those who have been dinged up include: edge CJ Madden, wide receiver Kam Brown, defensive backs Tarrion Grant and Hudauri Hines, as well as offensive linemen Josh Sales and Corey Stewart. Stewart and Brown have been battling for starting time at their respective positions.
A season ago, injuries took a toll on the Boilermakers, as they finished 4-8.
Take me down to the Paradise City
At the end of his media session, Walters was asked if Guns N’ Roses front man and Lafayette native Axl Rose had reached out yet about visiting Purdue football.
Walters had sent out a tweet recently stating, “@axlrose if you’re ever back home would love for you to come check out your Boilermakers!”
When asked if he had heard from Rose, Walters smiled and said he had not but that Rose had an “open invitation anytime, for sure.”
“A little birdie told me that he might be around town so just trying to reach out,” Walters said when asked what sparked the invite.
As for his favorite song from the band, Walters said, “Take me down to the Paradise City.”
Purdue football still looking for five offensive line starters
In what was a bit of a struggle at times last year, Purdue football continues to work to find five offensive linemen that can start when the season begins.
On Monday, Walters was asked if he and the coaching staff had found those players yet.
“We haven’t even had a scrimmage yet. We are nowhere close yet. We’ve still got how many days until the 31st? We’ve got time. When people separate themselves, we will make a decision,” Walters said.
When it comes to the upcoming scrimmage, which is slated for Thursday, Walters said the main focus is staying healthy.
“Hope we stay healthy. Execution and playing the right way. You like to see some of the guys you are counting on for depth to be guys that you can count on for depth. You want to see people separate themselves that are in position battles. Staying healthy is the main key,” Walters said.
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