Purdue will keep 2019 blue-chipper George Karlaftis home
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Marking one of the more significant recruiting wins it's known, Purdue has landed an early commitment from West Lafayette High School Class of 2019 blue-chip defensive lineman George Karlaftis.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive end/tight end announced his commitment Friday night, following West Side's 79-7 sectional win over Benton Central.
"It's home, it's family," Karlaftis said. "It runs in my blood. The gold and black runs in my blood.
"I have family ties, people I've trained with have gone there, I know the coaching staff well. It just felt right, and when it felt right, I'm going to do it."
The four-star Rivals.com junior committed to the Boilermakers over offers from Michigan, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisville and more, making him one of the most sought-after players Purdue's ever landed.
There wasn't a lot of suspense.
"I've known for a while this is where I was going to be going," Karlaftis said.
Not that long, though.
"Honestly, when they first offered me, I wasn't really that interested," Karlaftis said. "I didn't really know Coach (Jeff) Brohm. But I took a visit there and as I started the build a relationship with him and Coach (Nick) Holt and Coach (Reggie) Johnson, I saw that these guys are the real deal and these guys are going to do some great things, and I'm just hoping to be a leader and big part of that."
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Brohm and his first-year staff made Karlaftis a foremost priority immediately upon arriving in West Lafayette.
They offered him immediately, then got him on campus in the spring for the unofficial visit that changed his perception of the Boilermaker program as an option.
Since, Purdue brought him over in August, along with fellow local 2019 target Jack Kiser of Pioneer High School, for something of a personalized unveiling of its new training facility. Karlaftis has since been at Purdue for all three of its home games this season. Before the last one, against Minnesota, its staff arranged for Karlaftis, again flanked by Kiser, to meet with Drew Brees.
"Just the love they showed me, honestly it's kind of ridiculous," Karlaftis said. "They'd send me stuff every day. They'd send stuff to my mom, to my grandpa, my grandma, everyone in my family. My mailbox would be full of stuff from them and when I went there, it's just been royal treatment, just insane.
"But other than the love, they're doing great. They're working with pretty much the same talent as last year and getting better results. That tells what a difference in one year coaching can make. If the difference between this year and next is the same, I don't see why we can't have a great recruiting class."
Purdue will use Karlaftis as a defensive end, but its Holt and Johnson told him he'd play numerous spots in its front seven. Additionally, Purdue intends to use him as a part-time tight end also. (Ohio State offered Karlaftis for that position.)
"The system and the schemes they want to run," Karlaftis said of Purdue's defensive coaches, "it's perfect for me. Perfect for me."
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