Purdue football builds depth, stability on offensive line
Purdue football coach Zach Crabtree is mixing transfers and freshmen to build a cohesive offensive line unit.
WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue football's offensive line has been a source of concern for years, but Zach Crabtree's arrival aimed to address that issue. A blend of talented freshmen and experienced transfers were brought in to improve the unit. Now, Crabtree and offensive coordinator Josh Henson are working to not only identify the five best players, but also determine who fits together as a cohesive team. With only one full-time starter returning, the spring and fall camps emphasized mixing and matching.
Several players were back from last season, including Mason Vicari, Rocco Daly, Marques Easley, Tom Ewing, Max Parrott, Jude McCoskey, Ethan Trent, and Sankeerth Veluri. New faces included Boaz Stanley, James Williams Jr., Micah Banuelos, Brock Brownfield, Nuku Mafi, Terrell Berryhill Jr., Makai Saina, Rico Schreiber, and Jatavius Shivers.
The official starters for the upcoming season are yet to be officially announced, but Joey Tanona, Nuku Mafi, Boaz Stanley, Brock Brownfield, Jude McCoskey, and Micah Banuelos seem to have the best chances. The depth in the offensive line is substantial, with several players capable of stepping up if needed. Crabtree expects to play a lot of linemen early in the season to assess their readiness, which means the first five positions might not be fully solidified before the offense begins playing.
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