This year is an interesting year for many players coming out of a redshirt year. Purdue found several players as short term solutions via the transfer portal, meaning players like today's player have some breathing space to grow into solid contributors.

Joseph Jefferson II - Fr. (RS)

Indianapolis, IN (Pike HS)

6', 190 pounds

Defensive Back

2023 Projection: Reserve

Joseph was a high school teammate of starting offensive lineman Mahamane Moussa. Moussa was a member of the 2021 class, while Jefferson was in the 2022 class. Both played under Pat Echeverria, who had a successful run at Zionsville as a coach, but in the rough and tumble MIC in the Indianapolis area Pike was just 5-25 in his three seasons.

Jefferson still had a great 2021 season despite his team's 1-9 finish. He had 75 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four interceptions and one forced fumble on his way to first team all-state honors as a senior. That made him a three-star recruit, and last year he redshirted. He did appear in one game: the 56-0 blowout of Indiana State where seemingly everyone on the roster played.

In high school he was a three-time all-state player and also ran track as well as wrestled. That kind of versatility is a great way to get to the field.