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Recruiting Focus: Wide Receiver

Recruiting Focus: Defensive End

Wide receiver: A key position last year, a key position this year and a key position every year for Purdue.

For as long as Jeff Brohm and his staff in its current form are coaching the Boilermakers, the passing game will be of utmost importance, and by extension, so will the wide receiver position, one of the spots most in need of a personnel makeover from what was inherited.

Last year, Purdue signed a solid group — Rondale Moore, Jordan Bonner, Kory Taylor and Amad Anderson — but will look to follow it up in 2019 with a class of a quantity and quality, its coaching staff hoping to not have to look very far, considering the inordinate amount of Power 5-caliber receiver talent in Indiana this year.

Here's a look at some of Purdue's wide receiver targets, in no particular order.

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The slot-type wide receiver from Brownsburg has talked about making a decision in the next few weeks, with Purdue figuring to be a prime consideration.

Duke, Northwestern and Indiana are some of his other long-term players.

Kirtz said he doesn't expect to make a summer official visit to Purdue because of its proximity to home and his pre-existing familiarity, but he might be back on the West Lafayette campus at some point before deciding.

More ($): Kirtz moving toward early decision

The No. 1-ranked player in a strong in-state talent pool, the Warren Central wide receiver is a national recruit, with offers from Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee among his many offers. Purdue, Iowa and Indiana have long been involved as well.

It's a crowded field, but Purdue is believed to have significant traction with the four-star prospect.

More ($): David Bell video interview | Bell on Purdue

The towering Fort Wayne receiver just named a top five this weekend, with Purdue being joined by Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa and Indiana.

JaMarcus Shephard's intended impact in his native Fort Wayne may be paying dividends with Young, who may make official visits this summer.

More ($): Young on top five

The four-star athlete from the Columbus area visited Purdue during the season, then again for its spring game immediately after being offered and said he's certain "he'll be back" for more visits, suggesting legitimate interest in the Boilermakers.

More ($): Rice on Purdue

The Rivals250, four-star receiver from Purdue's recruiting wheelhouse of Louisville is a national recruit, but one it's had on campus for an unofficial visit and one who continues showing reciprocal interest. Ohio State is a player here, too, among many others.

Stay tuned for more on Wright to come.

A new offer from a school Purdue — and many others from the Big Ten — have frequented over the years, Broden says he'll visit West Lafayette in the near term and that Purdue is recruiting him harder than anyone.

Stay tuned for more on Broden to come.

Purdue's been very active in Missouri in recruiting and one of the targets those efforts have yielded is Boone, who also holds offers from Mizzou, Kentucky, Kansas and others. Boone says he expects to visit Purdue, either officially or unofficially, this summer.

Stay tuned for more on Boone to come.

A player Purdue recruited forever now, the lightning-fast Kentuckian is very similar to incoming signee Rondale Moore, which will either help its chances or hurt them since they're so similar. Duke and Northwestern are other long-time contenders, but his list of options is a long one, including a newly reported offer from Michigan.

Purdue covets size on the boundary and like Young, Beal would fit that bill, the Houston native standing 6-5.

He may visit this summer.

"I’m pretty serious about taking a visit because I was going to Indiana to visit my stepdad’s family already and they live 30 minutes away from campus," Beal recently told Rivals.com, "so I was going to sort of be up there already, so it would be pretty convenient.”

More ($): Beal on contenders

Another national recruit with offers from all over the place, Sheffield made the trip up from Nashville in the spring to visit Purdue for its junior day.

More ($): Sheffield on Purdue

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