# 2023 Purdue Boilermakers football team

The 2023 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Ryan Walters, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 4–8 with a mark of 3–6 in conference play, placing in four-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten's West Division. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Purdue Boilermakers football team drew an average home attendance of 58,248 in 2023, the 30th highest in college football.

## Offseason
### Coaching staff changes
#### Coaching staff departures

| Name | Position | Following Team | Following Position |
| Jeff Brohm | Head coach | Louisville | Head coach |
| Brian Brohm | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | Louisville | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks |
| Ron English | Co-defensive coordinator/secondary | Louisville | Defensive coordinator |
| Mark Hagen | Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line | Louisville | Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line |
| Chris Barclay | Running backs | Louisville | Running backs |
| David Elson | Linebackers | Wake Forest | Defensive analyst |
| Karl Maslowski | Special teams/assistant linebackers | Louisville | Special teams/assistant linebackers |
| Garrick McGee | Wide receivers | Louisville | Wide receivers |
| Dale Williams | Offensive line/tight ends | Louisville | Offensive quality control |
| Ryan Wallace | Tight ends/assistant offensive line | Louisville | Tight ends/special teams |
| Ashton Youboty | Cornerbacks | | |

#### Coaching staff additions

| Name | Position | Previous Team | Previous Position |
| Ryan Walters | Head Coach | Illinois | Defensive coordinator |
| Graham Harrell | Offensive coordinator | West Virginia | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks |
| Kevin Kane | Defensive coordinator | Illinois | Outside linebackers / Associate HC |
| Cory Patterson | Associate head coach/wide receivers | Illinois | Running backs |
| Sam Carter | Cornerbacks | Ole Miss | Cornerbacks |
| Lamar Conard | Running backs | Miami (OH) | Running backs |
| Joe Dineen | Outside linebackers | Illinois | Outside linebackers |
| Seth Doege | Tight ends | Ole Miss | Analyst |
| Brick Haley | Defensive line | Minnesota | Defensive line |
| Marcus Johnson | Offensive line | Missouri | Offensive line/run game coordinator/assistant head coach |
| Grant O'Brien | Safeties | Illinois | Safeties |
| Kiero Small | Director of strength and conditioning | Michigan | Assistant strength and conditioning |

### Transfers
#### Transfers out

The Boilermakers lost twelve players to the transfer portal.
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Transfer to |
| Spencer Holstege | #75 | LB | 6'5 | 275 | Graduate | Grand Rapids, Michigan | UCLA |
| Kobe Lewis | #25 | RB | 5'9 | 175 | Junior | Americus, Georgia | Florida Atlantic |
| Lawrence Johnson | #90 | LB | 6'4 | 285 | Senior | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Auburn |
| Branson Deen | #58 | LB | 6'3 | 255 | Senior | Indianapolis, Indiana | Miami (FL) |
| Jack Sullivan | #99 | DE | 6'5 | 275 | Senior | Plainfield, Illinois | USC |
| Chris Van Eekeren | #57 | K | 5'11 | 195 | Junior | Chesterton, Indiana | Temple |
| Greg Hudgins | #98 | DT | 6'4 | 230 | Sophomore | Washington D.C. | Charlotte |
| Eric Miller | #74 | OT | 6'7 | 305 | Senior | Mason, Ohio | Louisville |
| Terence Thomas | - | S | 5'11 | 185 | Freshman | Youngstown, Ohio | Akron |
| Brady Allen | #18 | QB | 6'5 | 210 | Sophomore | Fort Branch, Indiana | Louisville |
| Tristan Cox | #48 | LB | 6'3 | 235 | Junior | Somerset, Kentucky | Ohio |
| Jordan Buchanan | #19 | CB | 6'0 | 165 | Sophomore | Suwanee, Georgia | South Alabama |
| Jamari Brown | #7 | CB | 6'3 | 205 | Senior | Pompano Beach, Florida | Mississippi State |

#### Transfers in

The Boilermakers added fourteen players via transfer.
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Transfer from |
| Salim Turner-Muhammad | #2 | CB | 6'0 | 170 | Senior | Alexandria, Virginia | Stanford |
| Hudson Card | #1 | QB | 6'2 | 195 | Junior | Austin, Texas | Texas |
| Isaiah Nichols | #90 | DL | 6'3 | 300 | Junior | Springdale, Arkansas | Arkansas |
| Jalen Grant | #75 | IOL | 6'3 | 297 | Senior | Chicago, Illinois | Bowling Green |
| Ben Farrell | #64 | OT | 6'4 | 299 | Senior | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Indiana Wesleyan |
| Anthony Brown | #24 | S | 6'0 | 185 | Freshman | Milan, Tennessee | Arkansas |
| Jeffrey M'ba | #0 | DL | 6'6 | 305 | Junior | Libreville, Gabon | Auburn |
| Malik Langham | #35 | DL | 6'6 | 269 | Senior | Huntsville, AL | Vanderbilt |
| Marquis Wilson | #16 | CB | 5'11 | 180 | Senior | Windsor, CT | Penn State |
| Braxton Myers | #12 | CB | 6'1 | 188 | Freshman | Coppell, TX | Ole Miss |
| Bennett Meredith | #18 | QB | 6'3 | 190 | Freshman | Birmingham, AL | Arizona State |
| Luke Griffin | #74 | OT | 6'5 | 275 | Senior | Chatsworth, Georgia | Missouri |
| Jahmal Edrine | #7 | WR | 6'3 | 210 | Junior | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Florida Atlantic |
| Markevious Brown | #1 | CB | 6'0 | 170 | Sophomore | Bradenton, Florida | Ole Miss |
| Austin Johnson | #58 | OL | 6'4 | 305 | Junior | Highlands Ranch, Colorado | Colorado |

### Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | NFL team | Player | Position |
| 4 | 131 | Cincinnati Bengals | Charlie Jones | WR |
| 4 | 135 | Las Vegas Raiders | Aidan O'Connell | QB |
| 5 | 171 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Payne Durham | TE |
| 7 | 241 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Cory Trice | CB |
| 7 | 255 | San Francisco 49ers | Jalen Graham | OLB |

## Preseason
### Recruits

The Boilermakers signed a total of 17 recruits.
College recruiting information (2023) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Winston Berglund DB | Carmel, IN | Carmel High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | Apr 15, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Owen Davis LB | Richwood, OH | North Union High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Jun 5, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Drake Carlson DT | Nashville, TN | Father Ryan High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 272 lb (123 kg) | Jun 13, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Zion Gunn CB | Winter Park, FL | Winter Park High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jun 13, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ryan Browne QB | New Berlin, NY | Milford Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Oct 7, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ethon Cole S | Minneola, FL | Lake Minneola High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Jul 2, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Dillon Thieneman S | Westfield, IN | Westfield High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Jun 14, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jamarrion Harkless DL | Lexington, KY | Frederick Douglass High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | Dec 21, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Will Heldt LB | Carmel, IN | Carmel High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | Jun 25, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ryne Shackelford | LaGrange, OH | Keystone High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 168 lb (76 kg) | Jun 27, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jaron Tibbs WR | Indianapolis, IN | Cathedral High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | Jun 28, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| George Burhenn TE | Fortville, IN | Cathedral High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Jul 1, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Issiah Walker OL | El Dorado, KS | Butler Community College | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 302 lb (137 kg) | Jan 24, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Derrick Rogers WR | Orlando, FL | Jones High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jan 29, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Arhmad Branch WR | Festus, MO | Festus High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jan 29, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jimmy Liston OC | Hinsdale, IL | Fenwick High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 310 lb (140 kg) | Aug 31, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Mondrell Dean DE | Hurricane, WV | Hurricane High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 66 247Sports: 64 |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Purdue Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023. "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023. "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023. |||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Fresno State* | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | BTN | L 35–39 | 54,898 |
| September 9 | 12:00 p.m. | at Virginia Tech* | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ESPN2 | W 24–17 | 65,632 |
| September 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Syracuse* | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | NBC | L 20–35 | 61,441 |
| September 22 | 7:00 p.m. | Wisconsin | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | FS1 | L 17–38 | 55,529 |
| September 30 | 3:30 p.m. | Illinois | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN (rivalry) | Peacock | W 44–19 | 59,510 |
| October 7 | 3:30 p.m. | at Iowa | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | Peacock | L 14–20 | 69,250 |
| October 14 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 3 Ohio State | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | Peacock | L 7–41 | 57,319 |
| October 28 | 3:30 p.m. | at Nebraska | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | FS1 | L 14–31 | 86,709 |
| November 4 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 3 Michigan | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI | NBC | L 13–41 | 110,245 |
| November 11 | 3:30 p.m. | Minnesota | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | NBC | W 49–30 | 59,049 |
| November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | at Northwestern | Ryan FieldEvanston, IL | BTN | L 15–23 | 23,291 |
| November 25 | 12:00 p.m. | Indiana | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN (Old Oaken Bucket) | BTN | W 35–31 | 59,993 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, from the date when issued) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern timeSource: ||||||||
* ↑ 1st half moved to FS2 to accommodate the conclusion of Oklahoma-Kansas, which originally aired on FOX

## Game summaries
### Fresno State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 39 |
| Boilermakers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
at Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: SW 6 mph
* Game attendance: 54,898
* Referee: Ron Snodgrass
* TV announcers (BTN): Cory Provus (play-by-play) & Jake Butt (analyst) & Brooke Fletcher (sideline)
* Recap, Box score
| Statistics | FRES | PUR |
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 81–487 | 61–363 |
| Rushes–yards | 37–116 | 30–109 |
| Passing yards | 371 | 254 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 32–45–1 | 17–30–0 |
| Time of possession | 36:33 | 23:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Fresno State | Passing | Mikey Keene | 31/44, 365 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Fresno State | Rushing | Elijah Gilliam | 20 carries, 93 yards |
| Fresno State | Receiving | Erik Brooks | 9 receptions, 170 yards, 2 TD |
| Purdue | Passing | Hudson Card | 17/30, 254 yards, 2 TD |
| Purdue | Rushing | Devin Mockobee | 16 carries, 60 yards, TD |
| Purdue | Receiving | Deion Burks | 4 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TD |

### Virginia Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Boilermakers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Hokies | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia
* Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: NE 5 mph
* Game attendance: 65,632
* Referee: Riley Johnson
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Brian Custer (play-by-play) & Rod Gilmore (analyst) & Lauren Sisler (sideline)
* Recap, Box score
| Statistics | PUR | VT |
| First downs | 22 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 80–427 | 62–286 |
| Rushes–yards | 46–179 | 22–11 |
| Passing yards | 248 | 275 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 23–34–0 | 18–40–2 |
| Time of possession | 38:01 | 21:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Purdue | Passing | Hudson Card | 23/34, 248 yards |
| Purdue | Rushing | Devin Mockobee | 21 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD |
| Purdue | Receiving | Max Klare | 8 receptions, 64 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Grant Wells | 16/33, 243 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Malachi Thomas | 6 carries, 18 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Dae'Quan Wright | 4 receptions, 77 yards |

### Syracuse

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Orange | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
| Boilermakers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind: SE 6 mph
* Game attendance: 61,441
* Referee: Jeff Flanagan
* TV announcers (NBC): Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter)
* Recap, Box score
| Statistics | SYR | PUR |
| First downs | 28 | 29 |
| Plays–yards | 72–455 | 78–403 |
| Rushes–yards | 44–271 | 32–80 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 323 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 14–28–1 | 32–46–1 |
| Time of possession | 29:28 | 30:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Syracuse | Passing | Garrett Shrader | 14/28, 184 yards, 1 INT |
| Syracuse | Rushing | Garrett Shrader | 25 carries, 195 yards, 4 TD |
| Syracuse | Receiving | Damien Alford | 4 receptions, 70 yards |
| Purdue | Passing | Hudson Card | 32/46, 323 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Purdue | Rushing | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | 10 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD |
| Purdue | Receiving | Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen | 10 receptions, 114 yards |

### Wisconsin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Badgers | 14 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 38 |
| Boilermakers | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
at Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: September 22, 2023
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C); Cloudy; Wind at SE4 MPH
* Game attendance: 55,529
* Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
* TV announcers (FS1): Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
WIS – Tanner Mordecai 14-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 10:05 Wisconsin 7–0 Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 3:25.
WIS – Tanner Mordecai 6-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 3:26 Wisconsin 14–0 Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 2:44.
PUR – Julio Macias 34-yard field goal, 0:17. Wisconsin 14–3. Drive: 8 plays, 58 yards, 3:09.
Second quarter
WIS – Braelon Allen 14-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 6:36 Wisconsin 21–3 Drive: 16 plays, 75 yards, 8:41.
Third quarter
WIS – Nathanial Vakos 38-yard field goal, 11:44. Wisconsin 24–3. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:07.
PUR – Tyrone Tracy Jr. 19-yard run (Julio Macias kick), 8:42 Wisconsin 24–10 Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:02.
WIS – Nathanial Vakos 22-yard field goal, 3:54. Wisconsin 27–10. Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 4:48.
PUR – Hudson Card 6-yard run (Julio Macias kick), 0:00 Wisconsin 27–17 Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:54.
Fourth quarter
WIS – Nathanial Vakos 48-yard field goal, 12:52. Wisconsin 30–17. Drive: 5 plays, 16 yards, 2:01.
WIS – Braelon Allen 4-yard run (Tanner Mordecai pass), 3:35 Wisconsin 38–17 Drive: 3 plays, 26 yards, 1:27.
Top passers
WIS – Tanner Mordecai – 17/27, 174 yards, 1 INT
PUR – Hudson Card – 21/38, 202 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
WIS – Braelon Allen – 16 rushes, 116 yards, 2 TD
PUR – Tyrone Tracy Jr. – 8 rushes, 84 yards, 1 TD
Top receivers
WIS – Chimere Dike – 3 receptions, 67 yards
PUR – Deion Burks – 6 receptions, 73 yards
Top defenders
WIS – James Thompson Jr. – 6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 PD
PUR – Sanoussi Kane – 9 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PD :

## Awards and honors
### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year | Date Awarded |
| Maxwell Award | Hudson Card | QB | JR | July 31, 2023 |
| Outland Trophy | Gus Hartwig | C | SR | August 1, 2023 |
| Ray Guy Award | Jack Ansell | P | JR | August 2, 2023 |
| Rimington Trophy | Gus Hartwig | C | SR | August 4, 2023 |
| Doak Walker Award | Devin Mockobee | RB | SO | August 9, 2023 |

### Weekly Awards

Weekly Awards :
| Player | Award | Date Awarded |
| Dillon Thieneman | Big Ten Freshman of the Week | September 5, 2023 |
| Dillon Thieneman | Big Ten Freshman of the Week | October 9, 2023 |
| Dillon Thieneman | Big Ten Freshman of the Week | October 30, 2023 |
| Dillon Thieneman | Big Ten Freshman of the Week | November 13, 2023 |
| Dillon Thieneman | Big Ten Freshman of the Week | November 27, 2023 |

### All-Conference Honors

Big Ten Awards :
| Award | Player | Position |
| Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year | Dillon Thieneman | DB |
All-Conference Teams :
| Player | Position | Coaches | Media |
| Dillon Thieneman | DB | 2nd Team | 3rd Team |
| Dione Burks | WR | 2nd Team | |
| Nic Scourton | DL | 2nd Team | |
| Tyrone Tracy Jr. | RS | 3rd Team | HM |
| Kydran Jenkins | LB | HM | HM |
| Sanoussi Kane | S | HM | HM |
| Isaiah Nichols | DE | HM | |
| HM = Honorable mention. Reference: ||||