MORE: GoldandBlack.com projected post-spring depth chart: Offense
This is GoldandBlack.com's best guess at the Boilermakers' two-deep defensive depth chart coming out of an abbreviated spring that saw Purdue practice just eight times before the pandemic shut things down.
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• LINE Lots of change here with the move to a 3-4 alignment. The base set will have two ends and a nose tackle for new coordinator Bob Diaco. Also new: The line coach, as young Terrance Jamison arrives from Air Force. Jamison knows he has a gem in sophomore end George Karlaftis, a Freshman All-American who excels at getting up field and making plays. He's a relentless force. With Derrick Barnes moving from end back to his natural linebacker role, Purdue needs a book-end for Karlaftis. Undersized sophomore Branson Deen gets first shot. Depth needs to be sorted out. The return of fifth-year senior Lorenzo Neal from a 2018 knee injury that kept him out all of last season is a big bonus. Neal is a prototype nose man who can push the pocket and clog lanes, but he was limited in the spring as he continues to ease back. Fellow fifth-year senior tackle Anthony Watts is feisty and active. Sophomore tackle Lawrence Johnson has promise working on the nose. Sophomore Jack Sullivan is one to watch at end. Plenty of opportunity looms for guys like Willie Lane, KJ Stokes, Jeff Marks, Sulaiman Kpaka and Steven Faucheux, the most touted of them all.
• LINEBACKER This is the spot with the most to prove on defense. Depth is lacking, along with many proven commodities. Not an ideal situation for Diaco's new base scheme that requires four linebackers. This much is obvious: JC transfer DaMarcus Mitchell has to be a stud. He was committed to Louisiana Tech when Diaco was the coordinator there. When Diaco--the linebacker coach--took the Purdue gig, Mitchell followed. He's a 6-3, 260-pound force built along the lines of former star Purdue linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley. He lined up in the "Cat" position (outside linebacker to the boundary) in the spring. The other outside linebacker is called a "Dog," which plays on the field side. Sophomore Jalen Graham was manning that position in the spring. He's a former safety who played a big role (seven starts) as a true freshman in 2019. Inside, Purdue was running with a combination of Barnes, junior Jaylan Alexander and fifth-year senior Semisi Fakasiieiki. Redshirt freshman Khali Saunders and Jacob Wahlberg figure to carve out roles. Saunders was pressed into duty in 2019 when injuries chipped away depth. Sophomore Elijah Ball could be a factor on the outside.
• SECONDARY This could be the best part of the defense. The Boilermakers may have a future star in sophomore corner Cory Trice. The 6-3 Trice moved from safety to corner in training camp in 2019 and ended up being honorable mention All-Big Ten. Sophomore safety Cam Allen is another exciting youngster. He became a key member of the secondary as a true freshman in 2019. The hard-hitting Allen has a bright future. The youth parade continues with redshirt freshman safety Marvin Grant, who was primed to play in 2019 before injury derailed him. Look for Grant to carve a niche this fall. Fifth-year senior Simeon Smiley brings versatility to the equation. Corner, safety, nickel ... Smiley can do it all. Fellow fifth-year senior Brennan Thieneman is a leader from a safety slot. Juniors Dedrick Mackey and Kenneth Major are battle-tested at cornerback. Keep an eye on redshirt freshman corner Nyles Beverly.
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• KICKING/PUNTING Fifth-year senior J.D. Dellinger should be one of the Big Ten's best kickers. He made 13-of-16 field-goal attempts last season and hit a clutch game-winner at Northwestern. He has 50-yard range and showed improved oomph on kickoffs last season. The punt game has been solid. Sophomore Brooks Cormier has a strong right leg but needs better consistency. Junior Zac Collins offers a change-of-pace with his pooch/rugby kick abilities.
• RETURNS Purdue hopes new special teams coach Marty Biagi can amp up the return game, where big plays have been lacking for too long. Biagi will have some tantalizing options to run back kicks, led by Rondale Moore. TJ Sheffield also could be an option. And could true freshman speed demon Marcellus Moore be a factor?
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