Purdue’s defensive end room heads into its first scrimmage of fall camp with something it didn’t have last season: real depth and a clear competition for snaps.
That’s the big takeaway from Friday’s practice, the final workout before the Boilermakers get their first live look at the group over the weekend. Rush ends coach Jake Trump made it plain that the rotation won’t be handed out based on reputation. It will come down to who performs.
“In my room, I have standards, not necessarily starters,” Trump said. “If you can uphold the standard ...
I'm going to rotate and play and see who produces and who I can trust. Ultimately, that's what it's going to be.
I hope I can play from top to bottom and keep people fresh, but I have a room that is highly competitive.”
That room includes returners CJ Madden, Breeon Ishmail and Trey Smith, along with transfers Keyshawn Burgos from Virginia Tech, Elo Modozie from Georgia and Jeremy Lewis from Iowa Western CC. Trump said he likes how the group has developed over the last eight months, and he’s open to mixing and matching depending on the opponent and the situation.
That kind of flexibility wasn’t really an option for Purdue a year ago. Now it is, and Saturday’s scrimmage gives every player in the room a chance to prove he belongs in the rotation.
Madden is one of the names carrying the most expectation into the season. He arrived in West Lafayette with plenty of buzz from Georgia, but the production hasn’t matched the hype yet.
Injuries slowed him in 2024, and last fall was his first full season with the Boilermakers. He played in all 12 games and finished with 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
Trump wants more now that Madden has the snaps and the experience.
“He has a lot of snaps under his belt and he played a lot last year," Trump said. "Now, let's see the production come along with it. That's my challenge to him, seeing him finish and make plays.”
Madden sounds ready for that challenge. Asked what fans should expect from him, he didn’t hesitate.
“Great things,” Madden said. “I'm ready to go win.
I'm truly excited to be with this team. We've been real-deal working since winter.”
The work, both Trump and Modozie said, has shown up in the weight room and on the field. Trump credited Kiero Small for helping push the group through spring and summer, and said the entire room looks faster and stronger now.
“Coach [Kiero Small] did a great job with the guys through the summer, through the spring," Trump said. "They're all faster, stronger, and you can tell when we go out on the field.
All of them. I can't say enough about the work they've put in.”
Modozie echoed that theme, saying the group spent the offseason grinding to improve its speed and strength.
“We were here day in and day out, just grinding,” Modozie said. “We were mainly trying to get our speed up, strength up. I think that's going to be the biggest difference this year.”
Purdue’s defensive approach is still built around aggression, even with Barry Odom now running the program and Kane’s influence still part of the conversation from his time as defensive coordinator under Ryan Walters. Trump said the edge rushers are still being asked to attack, while also blending in what Odom has always done.
“We're still attacking,” Trump said. “We're bringing a lot of things Coach Odom has always done. Coach Kane has done a great job of doing what we did well and building on that.”
That word - attack - has come up often during camp, and it fits what Purdue wants from this unit: more pressure, more disruption and more takeaways. Madden said Kane has adapted to the players on hand while keeping his own philosophy intact.
“It was a different defense under another coach,” Madden said. “He's adapting to what we have ... but he's adapted and still brought his philosophy. I think he's done a great job being personable with us.”
In Other News...
Purdue August Roundup Brings Early Momentum And One Tough Camp Blow
Purdues August has already brought a little bit of everything, starting with an encouraging volleyball tune-up and stretching across campus into football, basketball and even the NFL preseason. The volleyball team edged Ball State in a five-set exhibition, with freshman Addy Tindall drawing attention, while football moved through fall camp with a scrimmage and a visit from former quarterback Drew Brees. Away from West Lafayette, incoming womens basketball guard Maya Zilbershlag kept adding to the summers buzz with a standout run at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket for Israel, and former Boilermakers Mani Powell and EJ Horton got their first NFL preseason action.
The harder news came on the football side, where camp brought word that tight end Kylan Fox and defensive back Raderrion Daniels are dealing with injuries serious enough to cloud their availability for the season. For a team trying to build momentum before the opener, losing depth in two different spots is a real setback, even with the usual late-summer optimism around the roster. Purdue still has time to sort through the damage and settle on its next answers, but August can turn quickly from a showcase month into a test of how much a team can absorb. [Read more 🡒]