Spring Football: A Look At Wide Receivers

The Boiling Point: Potential, not production, highlight Purdue’s wide receiver position.

Like many positions for coach Danny Hope, wide receiver is a spot where Purdue needs several guys to emerge. That was needed before Keith Smith was denied a sixth-year of eligibility, and now that Smith is a no-go, the position lacks a lot.


What we know: It’s a very inexperienced group with only a couple names most people know. At the top of the list from a talent standpoint, not production, is sophomore O.J. Ross and senior Justin Siller, above. Both battled injuries last season and have fewer than 20 catches combined, but are the top two skilled guys at the position. Antavian Edison did catch 32 balls last season and was the second leading receiver, but that doesn’t say much for an offense that had just 197 receptions. From there it’s more of the same, guys who have shown some potential but haven’t really produced.Gary Bush didn’t really do much and the same can be said for Waynelle Gravesande.

Moving forward: What would also help this unit out is some consistency at the quarterback position, whether that’s Rob Henry or Robert Marve, in the spring and fall. These guys were forced to mesh with three quarterbacks last season and that’s not a good combination for an inexperienced group. On top of that, Purdue’s offense was a run-first variety last year, which limited the opportunities for most of these guys.

What we don’t know: There are a couple other guys who haven’t played a snap at wide out on Saturdays for the Boilers who could become factors. Normondo Harris has made the move from defense and Charles Torwudzo was someone who earned high praise before taking the year to redshirt. Now would be the time to see what those two can do to help this position of need.