Notebook: No rush to hire TE/ST coach, injuries galore, physical spring

MORE: Spring Football Central

Purdue has been chugging along all spring down one assistant coach after special teams/tight ends coach Mark Tommerdahl left for a spot at Texas Tech in February. Jeff Brohm seems confident with the current arrangement and won’t address a permanent solution for now.

“We are going to wait until after the spring to get that done,” said Brohm.

Brohm has had quality control assistant Ryan Wallace working with the tight ends. He has a strong relationship with Brohm, coming to Purdue with him in 2017 after also working two years for him as a GA at Western Kentucky.

“Ryan Wallace, who really worked with our tight ends the last couple of years, has been with me for a long time,” said Brohm. “He basically has been designated as the guy on the field to work our tight ends. He has done a good job."

Kevin Wolthausen is working with the special teams, a role he also had last season in addition to working with the defensive line.

“Coach Wolthausen has taken over the special teams to this point and we want to make sure we are productive and we know each other and have a plan right now that we are trying to get through. Then after spring, we will address that,” said Brohm.

Spring ball has been notable for who isn’t playing, especially on defense. Those out before spring ball even started: DT Lorenzo Neal (knee); LB Cornel Jones (foot); LB Markus Bailey (hip); S Brennan Thieneman (leg). Since spring practice began, DT Anthony Watts (foot) has been shelved along with LB Jaylan Alexander (ankle), CB Jordan Rucker (shoulder) and DE Willie Lane (foot). DT Jack Sullivan has been out with mono. DE George Karlaftis also missed time after sustaining an upper-body injury, but he's back.

“Quite a few of those out have played a lot of football,” said Brohm. “Sometimes, you are gonna have some injuries. We want to get our guys healed for the fall. While without question we’d like to have them out here working, the guys who have played a lot, I’m really not concerned about.

“Now, some of the younger ones who haven’t played as much, yes, we’d like to have them out here and they are gonna miss on numerous opportunities to get better. But I think the main guys, the Baileys, the Neals, those type of guys, we have to get them fully healthy because we know they can produce when they are out there.”

If you have been at spring practice often, you probably have noticed a lot of hitting and tackling. It’s by design.

“For us, there are a lot of new faces that will be out there,” said Brohm. “We have to learn to play real football in a true game setting. Sometimes, you don’t really know how that is gonna happen until you know it’s live tackle. Moreso than ever, the new faces are why we are doing it.”

Purdue will get a chance to do more live tackling during a scrimmage this Saturday. The spring game is April 6.

Yes, Brohm will be at tonight’s NCAA game in his home town, as Purdue takes on Tennessee in the Sweet 16. He was at the Boilermakers’ game vs. Old Dominion in Hartford, Conn., last Thursday.

Brohm was honored in his home town on Wednesday by the Catholic Education Foundation of the Archdiocese of Louisville during its annual Salute to Catholic School Alumni dinner. The dinner raises money for families in Kentucky who want their children to attend a Catholic school but can’t afford it.

“I am a sports fan, so I definitely will be rooting on the basketball team,” said Brohm. “The last game, they were lights out. It was one of those days when they were on fire. It was fun to watch. I know that will build their confidence going into a great contest against Tennessee. I am looking forward to that basketball game.”

Back in the day, Brohm formed a strong backcourt duo with broth Greg for Trinity High. Who was the leading scorer? It was Jeff.

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