Express Portal needs: Offense

MORE: Portal needs--Defense

The NCAA transfer portal has an active heart beat. Each day, players jump in looking for new opportunities. At times, it's difficult to keep up with all of the names and movement.

Purdue joined the party over the weekend when it added Western Kentucky grad transfer guard Tyler Witt to an offensive line that already figured to be a strong point in 2021.

Jeff Brohm will keep shopping in the portal—and recruiting high school and JC players—as he looks to flip the script on three consecutive losing seasons as he begins his fifth year in West Lafayette. The winter signing day begins February 3.

“I think every year it's different, but you've got to assess your team at the end of the season and see where your weaknesses are and where you can get better and how to get better, and we want to continue to do that,” Brohm said prior to the end of the 2020 season. “We've been studying that since the last week and making sure that we're on top of everything that's going on and making sure that we're going to do our part to improve our team.”

When asked if he would be active in the transfer market, Brohm answered succinctly:

“Yes.”

And it likely won’t be just grad transfers who are immediately eligible in 2021. The NCAA will vote in January to allow all student-athletes to transfer once without sitting out. The rule would be effective on Aug. 1, 2021. Fall and winter sport athletes would have to notify their schools of a transfer by May 1, with an exception extending the date to July 1 for an end-of-the-year head coaching change or the non-renewal of scholarships.

What positions at Purdue most need the immediate help that a portal addition would bring? We broke down the defense on Tuesday. Today, let’s take a look at the offense.

Purdue has a nice tandem in junior Zander Horvath and sophomore King Doerue. But depth could be needed after redshirt freshman Da'Joun Hewitt and true freshman Tirek Murphy opted out. Will they be back? Sophomore fullback Alfred Armour has entered the portal.

The last time Purdue had a 1,000-yard rusher was 2008, when Kory Sheets ran for 1,131 yards. It’s the longest current drought without a 1,000-yard rusher in the Big Ten. There have been just eight seasons—six different players—that featured a 1,000-yard rusher in the Boilermakers’ history.

Bottom line: This position could use an injection of playmaking ability. The Boilermakers will add 6-0, 220-pound UNLV transfer Dylan Downing. But the 2020 true freshman is more of a power back. Speedy incoming freshman Ja'Quez Cross is set to arrive. Could he help in 2021?

This isn't a major need. Still, Purdue already has added Western Kentucky grad transfer guard Tyler Witt. Guard would seem to be the least of the concerns about Purdue's o-line. Adding a tackle seemingly would be more a need with fifth-year senior Grant Hermanns gone. But it's believed UTEP grad transfer Greg Long--the top right tackle last year--may return in 2021.

Since arriving at Purdue in 2017, Brohm often has tapped into the grad transfer market for immediate help. And the offensive line has been the position hit most often by Brohm. Witt will be the fifth o-lineman grad transfer, joining Dave Steinmetz, Shane Evans, Greg Long and Dennis Edwards.

Bottom line: If a just-add-water tackle can be added, Purdue should do it. Here is how the No. 1 line could line up in 2021: LT redshirt freshman Cam Craig; LG Witt; C true freshman Gus Hartwig; RG redshirt freshman Spencer Holstege; RT Long. Other key returnees: sophomore tackles Will Bramel and Eric Miller, junior guards Mark Stickford and DJ Washington, junior center Sam Garvin and redshirt freshman guard Kyle Jornigan.

Purdue has seen some attrition.

Sophomore Rondale Moore is off to the NFL, and fellow sophomore Amad Anderson, Jr., has transferred to Temple. Fifth-year senior Jared Sparks has opted out. Still, plenty of talent remains.

Jackson Anthrop, another fifth-year senior, is believed to be leaning toward returning to Purdue. Plus, the Boilermakers retain talent like sophomores David Bell and Milton Wright, along with redshirt freshmen TJ Sheffield and Mershawn Rice,and true freshmen Maliq Carr, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, Collin Sullivan and Marcellus Moore. And, maybe incoming freshmen Deion Burks and Preston Terrell could help in 2021.

Bottom line: No need to go shopping. But if you find a difference-maker, take him.

The Boilermakers will welcome back all of their signal-callers: junior Aidan O'Connell, sophomore Jack Plummer, junior Austin Burton and true freshman Michael Alaimo.

O'Connell--who won the job out of camp--is coming off a foot injury that ended his 2020 season after three games after starting the final three games of 2019. Plummer started the final three games after making six starts in 2019. Burton arrived before last season as a grad transfer from UCLA. Purdue has no quarterback signed in the Class of 2021 after Sam Jackson backed out of his verbal pledge.

Bottom line: Purdue can't guarantee an unfettered path to the No. 1 job, so it's doubtful any quality quarterback in the portal will want to matriculate to West Lafayette this offseason. Maybe a more pertinent question: Will a Purdue signal-caller enter the portal?

This spot is loaded with returning talent. There's sophomore Payne Durham, the No. 1 man and an emerging star. Redshirt freshman Garrett Miller is on the rise. Fellow redshirt freshman Kyle Bilodeau--a former four-star recruit--could make a move after battling injury. That's probably all Purdue needs, but the roster also includes sophomore Jack Cravaack (a former LB), redshirt freshman Paul Piferi (a former QB) and true freshman walk-on Ben Buechel. Want more? Drew Biber is an incoming freshman.

Bottom line: No room at the inn.

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