WEST LAFAYETTE — The Big Ten opener at Ross-Ade Stadium is a big recruiting weekend for Purdue football.
The Boilermakers are expecting 54 visitors for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff against USC.
Among them are seven verbal commits to Purdue’s 2026 class, along with some high profile targets in the 2027, ’28 and ’29 classes.
In-state prospects defensive tackle Kobe Cherry and New Palestine offensive lineman Brock Brownfield, as well as offensive lineman Rico Schreiber, defensive tackle Jamarcus Whyce, linebacker Brayden Sweeney defensive end Aiden Solecki and cornerback Emoni Smith already have pledged their intent to sign with the Boilermakers.
An intriguing in-state name is Brownsburg’s Branden Sharpe, who ranks second in Indiana through three games with 448 receiving yards, according to MaxPreps. Sharpe caught the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter that helped Brownsburg win last year’s Class 6A state championship.
Another Indiana state champion from last season, Mason Oglesby of New Palestine, is one of six tight ends with Purdue offers who’ll be on campus, a list that includes 2028 tight end Jack McNamara from Brother Rice in Chicago. McNamara is the No. 4 tight end nationally in 247Sports’ 2028 rankings. McNamara’s high school teammate Kameron McGee is 247’s No. 2 edge rusher nationally in 2028 and a top 10 overall recruit in the class and also is expected to be in West Lafayette. Jayden Bell, the nation’s No. 3 edge rusher by 247Sports, also announced he’ll be in West Lafayette on Saturday.
Purdue is bringing in just one quarterback this weekend, class of 2028 Chase Grove from North Central in Indianapolis.
Purdue football recruiting visitors vs. USC
Class: Player, position, high school (state) In-state prospects in bold.
2026: Jonatan Bezverhinii, OL, North Central; Brock Brownfield, OL, New Palestine; Kobe Cherry, DT, Center Grove; Braeden Jones, DE, Mount Carmel (Illinois); Carter Payne, K/P, Heritage Hills; Garrett Ranes, LB, New Palestine; Rico Schreiber, OL, Marist (Illinois); Bode Shoaps, K/P, Granville (Ohio); Emoni Smith, CB, Westland (Ohio); Aiden Solecki, DE, Downers Grove North (Illinois); Brayden Sweeney, LB, Catholic Central (Michigan); Jamarcus Whyce, DT, Trotwood-Madison (Ohio)
2027: Ryelin Abbott, OL, Perry Meridian; Dominic Black, OL, Tri-Village (Ohio); Matthew Brady, LB, Central Catholic (Illinois); Jaeden Byrd, CB, Brighton (Michigan); Jayden Cawthon, WR, Lincoln-Way East (Illinois); Mason Cerovac, LB, Olmsted Falls (Ohio); Chris Flores Jr., WR, Orange Lutheran (California); Maddox Hager, TE, Boyle County (Kentucky); Mason Halliman, OL, Lincoln-Way East (Illinois); Lundon Hampton, S, Kenowa Hills (Michigan); Maximus Hunt, TE, Holy Cross (Kentucky); Brady Johnson, TE, Glenbard West (Illinois); Colton Johnson, TE, Upperman (Tennessee); Bryce Kish, TE/LB, Howell (Michigan); Quentin Lea, LB, Rock Bridge (Missouri); Owen Matela, TE, Lyons Township (Illinois); Mason Oglesby, TE, New Palestine; Emmanuel Ohene-Dwumfour, DT, North Central; Germere Sanchez, S, Westland (Ohio); Branden Sharpe, WR, Brownsburg; Joshua Shaw Jr., DT, IC Catholic Prep (Illinois); Collin Shedwill, LB, Providence Catholic (Illinois); Trevon Smith, WR, Colerain (Ohio); Keontay Toomer, S, Ben Davis; Caleb Tucker, DT, Mount Carmel (Illinois); Carter Wallace, RB, Valley View (Arkansas); Josiah Wallace, OL, Glenbard West (Illinois); Zechariah Wallace, S, Warren Central; Larron Westmoreland, S, Jeffersontown (Kentucky)
2028: Jayden Bell, DE/TE, Brother Rice (Michigan); Anthony Carter, CB, Providence Catholic (Illinois); Chase Grove, QB, North Central; Javier McCoy, LB, Andrean; Kameron McGee, DE, Brother Rice (Illinois); Jack McNamara, TE, Brother Rice (Illinois); Dean Schnitzler, TE, Moeller (Ohio); Theo Schott, TE, Zionsville
2029: Tylan Florey, LB, Valley View (Arkansas); Isaiah Mills, RB, Regents School (Texas); Caiden Snow, TE, Westfield
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: USC game is big recruiting weekend for Purdue football. Here’s who is visiting Boilers
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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