The Purdue Boilermakers have some ground to make up in the class of 2014 recruiting race. They had a nice run in the first two months of summer, but over the last month and a half, commitments have dried up, and the Boilers are lagging behind their Big Ten brethren.
Purdue recruiting: After busy summer, Boilermakers slow down
Purdue picked up six commitments in June and July, but it’s been quiet lately.
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More on Purdue: Hammer and Rails
As the current 247 Composite rankings stand, Purdue’s 2014 class is No. 74 in the nation and 11th out of 12 in the Big Ten. With eight prospects currently pledged, the Boilermakers have the second-fewest commitments in the conference, besting only Minnesota’s six. Of their commits, seven are rated as three-star players. Three are in-state products, two hail from Texas, and Arkansas, Illinois and Georgia each have produced one prospect for Darrell Hazell’s team.
Top stars
Drue Tranquill is the cream of the crop for Purdue. A safety/outside linebacker at Fort Wayne (Ind.) Carroll High, he stands 6'2, weighs in at 210 pounds and runs a reported 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Tranquill has 11 offers from around the Midwest, and he chose the Boilermakers over Notre Dame, Cincinnati and Indiana, among others. He's a three-star prospect, per 247 Composite, the No. 28 safety in the class of 2014 and the sixth-best player from Indiana. Cornerbacks coach Jon Heacock and linebackers coach Marcus Freeman have been recruiting Tranquill, who committed on July 23.
Quarterback David Blough is the Boilers’ top offensive pledge. A 6’1, 180-pound pro-style prospect, Blough is from Carrollton (Texas) Creekview High School, and he picked the Boilermakers over Memphis and New Mexico State. 247 Composite gives him three stars and lists him as the 23rd-best pro-style QB in the country and the No. 52 prospect in the state of Texas. Blough committed to Purdue on June 15 after being recruited by offensive coordinator John Shoop.
On target
Purdue is a pretty bad football team in 2013 and needs serious help at multiple positions. A pass rush could really help, and that could come from Renell Wren, a defensive end from St. Louis (MO) North Lutheran. Wren also holds an offer from Memphis and Kansas.
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