Purdue Football: Success starts up front for Boilermakers

A season ago, the Purdue football offensive line was dismal, at best.

Injuries and various other issues hurt the offensive line, prompting the Boilermakers to hit the portal hard to help build depth. If spring practice can be any indicator, Purdue football ought to be vastly improved up front this season, which is music to the ears of offensive line coach Marcus Johnson.

Johnson notes the dynamic in the offensive line room has changed for the better this spring and he is excited to see his players during tomorrow’s Spring Game.

“We’re definitely bigger you know what I mean, but bigger doesn’t necessarily mean you can play too — Yes, it’s awesome being big, but I want good players too. In this game, I think it’s so much more about athletic ability, and the ability to move my feet,” Johnson said.

Center and captain Gus Hartwig said the Boilermakers have seen a change in the mentality of the offensive linemen this spring. Hartwig said Purdue football is different in how it is going about things this year.

“We’re a little bit more physical, little bit more aggressive,” he said.

And, the players up front are a little different, too. The Boilermakers added Corey Stewart, DJ Wingfield, Joey Tanona, Rod Green, Jaekwon Bouldin and Joshua Sales. The additions give Purdue deeply needed depth up front.

Johnson said having too many linemen is a far better issue for him than dealing with a roster full of injuries.

“I would rather have this problem than — you guys saw last year how you know injuries was an issue for us. You’re kind of playing guys and patch working up a group and I appreciate those guys from last year. Giving their all week in and week out, but to have those extra bodies in the room and it’s a huge, huge deal,” Johnson said.

Purdue opens the season Aug. 31 at home against Indiana State.