Purdue Football: Boilers ready for year two under Ryan Walters

As he enters his second season at the helm of Purdue football, Ryan Walters is a little more relaxed and educated.

“It’s night and day difference. You know the roster, you what you are trying to accomplish. You aren’t trying to figure things out. Much more educated place,” Walters said this week after the first spring practice.

And, the players are more educated and relaxed as well, the second-year coach admits.

“They are educated as well. They know the standard, they are speaking the same language and holding each other more accountable than a year ago. You are starting to see leaders emerge much sooner. All that is positive. Our numbers are good right now in terms of guys we got on the roster compared to last year,” Walters said.

With that said, Walters admits he has yet to take a moment to relax and catch his breath.

“There is no catching of breath. Always work to do. Right now it is raise money in collective, recruiting and be innovative with what we are doing schematically. I feel like this is what I am meant to do, meant to be and enjoying every moment of it,” he said.

A season ago, Purdue football finished 4-8 and won two of its last three games. In addition, the Boilermakers won the Old Oaken Bucket against Indiana. Of the losses, two were seven points or less.

Purdue brings back talent under center with quarterback Hudson Card and safety Dillon Thieneman, who had his All-American banner unveiled.

Walters said Thieneman is only getting started.

“His legacy will now be etched in Purdue history forever and to do that in year one is remarkable and the scary thing is he’s only gonna get better. That’s just a start,” Walters said of Thieneman, who notched 106 tackles and six interceptions last fall.

Walters said Card enters the spring practices “much more relaxed.”

“It’s his locker room. Think guys really respect him as a leader. He has much more understanding and command of the offense. He’s looking like QB1,” Walters said.

Boilers add plenty of talent from transfer portal

Purdue football also added a wealth of talent acquired from the transfer portal. Among the additions were:  wide receivers Kam Brown (UCLA), De’Nylon Morrissette (Georgia) and C.J. Smith (Georgia). Also, Running back Reggie Love III came from Illinois. 

“From what I have seen in workouts and day one, we are seeing what we saw on tape. Some have exceeded expectations. They all have a chip on their shoulder, put their head down and gone to work,” Walters said.

Walters admitted the Purdue NIL Collective, Boilermaker Alliance, helped significantly when it came to landing players in the portal.

“Leaps and bounds. We wouldn’t have been able to sign any of the guys we signed in the portal a year ago. We couldn’t get on the phone with them. I’m not saying we were the highest bidder by any means or highest collective opportunity but because of the strength of the collective and what we have available, we were able to get in conversation and get them on campus. Purdue speaks for itself and the facilities speak for themselves and I think the atmosphere here is unique and attractive to guys that are 19-22,” Walters said.

Boilers continue working with new attitude

Purdue football will kick open the 2024 season Aug. 31 against Indiana State. The Boilermakers will play in a Big Ten that has changed significantly and the schedule will now include dates against Oregon and Oregon State along with traditional Big Ten foes.

In order to get there, the Boilermakers are in the midst of spring practice with a focus on three key goals.

“One, our team to learn and master fundamentals and techniques of what we are trying to do from a schematic standpoint. Develop depth and chemistry and final goal is stay healthy coming out of spring,” Walters said.

And, Walters said he will do everything he can to maximize the numbers of players out there to help get the team not only ready but healthy heading into fall camp.

“You have to be smart with the reps, which is why I am glad of the guys we have. Rest will be spread evenly lot more walk through time with guys we think will play. Have to recognize we are playing Purdue on Purdue,” Walters said.

Despite the changes, Walters acknowledged his team is attacking 2024 with a chip on their shoulder.

“Guys who have been here, we all went 4-8 a year ago. Guys in the portal were in the portal for a reason and they all have something to prove as well. As much as we don’t pay attention to social media, you still hear it. We have a chip on our shoulder,” Walter said.