A season ago, Purdue football saw tremendous play up front from its defensive line, especially from the likes of Nic Scourton and Kydran Jenkins.
Scourton and Jenkins were two of the Big Ten Conference’s top three in sacks a season ago. However, there are some changes up front for the Boilermakers this season.
Scourton left Purdue football, transferring to Texas A&M, while Jenkins has been moved to inside linebacker. Along the way, the Boilermakers added Georgia transfer CJ Madden, Boston College transfer Shitta Sillah and Franklin College transfer Jireh Ojata.
“All doing a good job learning the defense. They all possess different things, and I think that’s important in trying to develop your room. All made tremendous strides,” Purdue football rush ends coach Joe Dineen said recently.
The biggest surprise could be that of Ojata, who played at in-state Division III Franklin College before transferring to the Big Ten. Dineen acknowledged he has liked what he has seen so far from the transfer.
“Jireh learning speed and physicality of Big Ten took a little bit, but he really produced in spring game. He has a bright future and I think he will be a great player for us,” Dineen said.
Dineen said each guy in his room has a different factor.
“If you have a bunch of the same player, then teams can kind of scheme towards that. I think each of the guys in the room have a little bit different factor about them. Some guys are more speed, some guys have really good length, some guys are are strong. I think being able to mix that up, especially when we are pass rushing, gives the tackles a little bit of issues, hopefully,” he said.
As for a recruiting message, Dineen said it starts and ends with the system Purdue football runs defensively.
“For any pass rusher out there, I think the system speaks for itself. You want to find guys that have traits that apply to what we ask those guys to do. Head coach is awesome. I think the scheme fits the position that I coach. I think if you can get guys that want to wreck shop in the backfield, get after the quarterback and have a one-on-one block every time, I think this is the scheme for those guys. Not much of a recruiting pitch, but honesty. If they come in, we show them what we do defensively and then usually if they want to do it, they’ll jump right in because it’s fun for those guys,” Dineen said.
Purdue opens the season Aug. 31 at home against Indiana State.
More must-reads: