An already promising Purdue receiving unit got stronger on Saturday morning with the commitment of Marshall transfer Broc Thompson.
"I don't care if I play on the outside or inside," Thompson told GoldandBlack.com. "I just want to win. Do what's best for the program."
The 6-2, 188-pound Thompson caught 33 passes for 562 yards. He is a native of Indianapolis who attended Ben Davis High. Thompson spent 2018 at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy before landing at Marshall.
"I wasn't academically eligible coming out of high school, so I had to go to Fork Union for four months," said Thompson.
Thompson caught 14 passes for 288 yards in 2020, while nabbing 19 for 334 yards in 2019. He suffered a stress fracture in his right shin that limited him last season, as he played in just four of the Thundering Herd's 10 games. Thompson will have three years of eligibility after entering the portal on Friday.
Thompson was a bit surprised when Purdue came calling.
"I didn't really expect for Purdue to even be in the picture," said Thompson. "My aim was to be closer to home because my brother beat cancer, but I was really just looking for a home. I definitely had no clue, and it was just like, you know, I'm fine with the transfer. I felt like Purdue was the best fit for me."
Thompson's 16-year old brother just beat cancer (osteosarcoma in his right knee). He was diagnosed eight months ago and endured 29 rounds of chemo.
"Coming home means everything to me," said Thompson. "Being able to be closer to my brother and family means a lot. My sister and brother-in-law both are Purdue graduates. Playing in my backyard is a dream."
Thompson is the ninth transfer addition (portal and JC) for Purdue this off-season, joining defensive backs C.J. McWilliams and Jabari Brown, defensive linemen Joe Anderson, PrinceJames Boyd and Damarjhe Lewis, offensive lineman Tyler Witt, linebacker O.C. Brothers and kicker Mitchell Fineran.
New Purdue co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brad Lambert was Marshall's defensive coordinator last season.
Thompson will join a Boilermaker wideout unit that lost Rondale Moore a year early to the NFL and saw rising redshirt freshman Maliq Carr transfer to Michigan State. Still, the group has lots of potential and will be led by juniors David Bell and Milton Wright. The group also brings back super senior Jackson Anthrop, sophomores TJ Sheffield and Mershawn Rice as well as promising redshirt freshmen Collin Sullivan, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen and Marcellus Moore.
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