What to know about Purdue football: Position battles, key newcomers & potential breakouts

Purdue football identified potential cornerstone players last season and augmented them with one of the nation’s best transfer portal classes last winter.

Wednesday morning, coach Ryan Walters begins the process of elevating that collection of talent past last season’s 4-8 record. His second preseason camp begins with few glaring questions regarding the lineup but plenty about the team’s potential.

Several other Big Ten teams might envy some of what Purdue brings into camp: a returning starter at quarterback (Hudson Card), proven playmakers on defense (Dillon Thieneman, Kydran Jenkins) and an influx of prior power conference transfers eager for an opportunity.

Setting the stage for three weeks of preseason camp -- with a couple of scrimmages mixed in -- leading to opening week against Indiana State on Aug. 31.

Three position battles to watch

• Right side of offensive line: When returning starting right tackle Marcus Mbow could not play in the spring game, New Mexico transfer DJ Wingfield took that spot. Wingfield, though, might be the solution at right guard, assuming he holds off seniors such as Jalen Grant and Luke Griffin. The more people who are truly pushing for starting consideration this spring, the better chances of avoiding last season’s depth issues.

• Rush end: This won’t be so much a battle for a job but a jostling for position in the rotation. Carmel’s Will Heldt returns, but the Boilermakers turned to the transfer portal for more help replacing departed transfer Nic Scourton. Shitta Sillah (Boston College) and CJ Madden (Georgia) both bring power conference experience. Jireh Ojata is trying to make the leap from Division III Franklin College. With Kydran Jenkins also moving from the edge to inside linebacker, this group must get to the quarterback.

• Backup quarterback: Obviously Purdue hopes Hudson Card avoids last season’s injury issues and plays every meaningful snap. The development behind him remains critical, though – either in case someone is forced onto the field this season or as the bridge to the future. True freshman Marcos Davila showed potential in the spring, if not consistency. He and redshirt freshman Ryan Browne are battling to be next in line.

Three important newcomers

• Nyland Green, cornerback: Top-100 prospects infrequently find their way from SEC country to non-blue chip programs in the north via conventional means. Purdue’s coaches believe they saw the flashes which once made Green a consensus top-five cornerback prospect in his limited film over three seasons with Georgia. If true, he could help neutralize the top opposing receiver in some crucial matchups.

• C.J. Smith, wide receiver: Purdue will fairly ask for more from Card, but it needed to supply more weapons – especially after the transfer departure of Deion Burks. In steps another former Bulldog who was once a state champion and nationally ranked sprinter as a Florida high school prospect. That over-the-top deep threat could be potent complement to what last season was an efficient rushing attack.

• Joey Tanona, offensive line: Four offensive linemen joined via the transfer portal, but none has the upside of Tanona. The caveat is the Zionsville grad who started his career at Notre Dame missed two seasons after a car wreck which forced him to medically retire. Walters talked last week like Tanona is ahead of where they expected him to be at this point. At worst, his versatility can help stabilize a position which was in flux due to injuries much of last season.

Three potential breakouts

• Jahmal Edrine, wide receiver: He doesn’t qualify as a newcomer, as he transferred in last year before tearing an ACL in preseason camp. The year before, he totaled 570 yards and six touchdowns on 39 receptions for Florida Atlantic. The Boilermakers were talking about his physical style of play last summer before the injury.

• Kydran Jenkins, linebacker: You could argue Jenkins already broke through with 7.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss (both tied for third among Big Ten players). He moves from a mostly edge rushing role as an outside linebacker to the Mike inside linebacker spot. He'll be asked to provide that same backfield disruption while also serving as the brain of the defensive front.

• Reggie Love III, running back: Purdue and Penn State were the only Big Ten programs with two backs rushing for more than 700 yards past season. One of them, Tyrone Tracy Jr., left for the NFL. So Walters reached over to his former program and plucked Love away from Illinois. He averaged 103.3 yards over his final three games last season, including 4.8 per carry. Can he and Devin Mockabee form a 1-2 punch that improves on a ground game that ranked fifth in the Big Ten in yards per carry last season?

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What to know about Purdue football: Position battles, key newcomers & potential breakouts