WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm announced the addition of 22 new Boilermakers in the first-ever early signing period. The class consists of 12 defenders and 10 players on the offensive side of the ball hailing from nine different states.
2018 Purdue Early Recruiting Class
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Last School |
| Jaylan Alexander | LB | 6-1 | 240 | River Grove, Ill./Hoffman Estates |
| Charles Allen | OL | 6-3 | 290 | Louisville, Ky./Doss |
| Amad Anderson | WR | 5-11 | 175 | Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis |
| Evan Anderson | RB | 6-1 | 200 | Suwanee, Ga./Collins Hill |
| Elijah Ball | DB | 6-1 | 200 | Indianapolis, Ind/Ben Davis |
| Jordan Bonner | WR | 6-2 | 195 | Carrollton, Ga./Carrollton |
| Will Bramel | OL | 6-6 | 280 | Danville, Ky./Boyle County |
| Jack Cravaack | DL | 6-5 | 225 | Cincinnati, Ohio/Madeira |
| Branson Deen | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central |
| Payne Durham | TE | 6-5 | 260 | Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge |
| Lawrence Johnson | DL | 6-4 | 300 | Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider |
| Jeff Marks | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Mobile, Ala./Davidson |
| Jimmy McKenna | OL | 6-5 | 275 | Avon, Ohio/Avon |
| Eric Miller | OL | 6-7 | 270 | Mason, Ohio/William Mason |
| Byron Perkins | DB | 6-2 | 185 | Chicago, Ill./De La Salle |
| Jack Plummer | QB | 6-5 | 220 | Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert |
| Jordan Rucker | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Denton, Texas/Ryan |
| Kadin Smith | DB | 6-0 | 195 | Taylorsville, Ky./Spencer County |
| KJ Stokes | DL | 6-3 | 250 | Millbrook, Ala./Stanhope Elmore |
| Jack Sullivan | DL | 6-5 | 255 | Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East |
| Kory Taylor | WR | 6-5 | 200 | Hilliard, Ohio/Bradley |
| Cory Trice | DB | 6-3 | 195 | Hopkinsville, Ky./Christian County |
Jaylan Alexander
• Hoffman Estates went 11-3 in 2017, advancing to the final four of the Class 6A Illinois state playoffs where it fell to state champions Prairie Ridge.
• Posted nine tackles, seven solo, and forced a fumble Elk Grove on Aug. 25.
• Recovered a fumble and had seven tackles vs. Deerfield on Sept. 8.
• Had a season-high 10 tackles and a fumble forced vs. Vernon Hills om Sept. 15
• Finished with a pair of interceptions against Lake Forest on Nov. 4 in the second round of the IHSA playoffs.
• Had 71 receptions for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns on offense as a senior.
• Had 73 tackles, including five sacks, and caught 58 passes for 763 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2016.
Charles Allen
• Doss went 9-3 overall in 2017, advancing to the second round of the 5A Kentucky state playoffs.
• Blocked for an offense that tallied a season-high 580 yards of total offense vs. Woodford County in the first game of the state playoffs.
• Doss averaged 423.1 yards of total offense during the regular season in 2017.
Amad Anderson
• Curtis went 11-1 in 2017, winning its second straight Public Schools Athletic League City Conference title.
• Curtis avenged its lone loss by defeating Erasmus Hall in the PSAL championship game.
• Big play potential, averaged nearly 29 yards per reception in 2017.
• Finished with four catches for 116 yards and a touchdown against Erasmus Hall on Sept. 8.
• Recorded five receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns vs. South Shore on Sept. 16.
• Had two touchdown receptions (63 and 23 yards) vs. Brooklyn Tech on Sept. 23.
• Scored on 62- and 22-yard receptions vs. Kennedy on Sept. 29.
• Had three receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns vs. Wagner on Oct. 14.
• Finished with two receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown against South Shore in the PSAL quarterfinals.
• Tallied two catches for 75 yards and a touchdown vs. Lincoln in the PSAL semifinals.
• Had four receptions for 77 yards in the PSAL championship game.
Evan Anderson
• Collins Hill went 6-5 in 2017.
• Rushed for 1,207 yards on 166 carries (7.3 yard per carry) and scored 13 rushing touchdowns as a senior.
• Had five straight 100-yard games in 2017.
• Recorded 102 yards on 17 carries vs. Central Gwinnet on Sept. 8.
• Finished with 140 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts vs. Mill Creek on Sept. 22.
• Rushed 12 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns against Discovery on Sept. 29.
• Had 100 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries vs. Duluth on Oct. 6.
• Rushed 22 times for 166 yards and a season-high three touchdowns vs. Mountain View on Oct. 13.
• Posted a season-high 219 yards with two touchdowns on 16 carries against Peachtree Ridge on Nov. 3. Also had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the game.
Elijah Ball
• Ben Davis went 14-0 in 2017, winning the Indiana 6A state championship while allowing only 15.7 points per game to its opponents.
• Ben Davis allowed merely 111 yards of total offense to Arsenal Tech on Aug. 18.
• Had a season-high 11 tackles, a PBU and forced a fumble vs. Avon on Aug. 25.
• Had eight stops and PBU against Pike on Sept. 1.
• Finished with six tackles in helping team limit Center Grove to 145 yards of total offense on Sept. 8.
• Helped hold Lawrence North 229 yards of total offense, including merely 59 yards passing, on Sept. 22.
• Tallied nine tackles vs. Lawrence Central in the sectional semifinals Oct. 27.
• Had six stops, four solo, in the sectional championship vs. Warren Central on Nov. 3.
• In the regional championship at Fishers on Nov. 10, finished with five tackles.
• Finished with three tackles in the state semifinals vs. Avon on Nov. 17.
• Ben Davis defeated Penn 63-14 to win the state title on Nov. 25.
Jordan Bonner
• Carrollton went 10-3 in 2017, advancing to the third round of the Georgia 3A state playoffs.
• Had a season-high seven receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown vs. Newman on Aug. 17.
• Recorded three receptions for 38 yards against vs. Riverdale on Sept. 1.
• Finished with two receptions for 20 yards at Cass on Nov. 3.
• Had six catches for 70 yards in the opening round of the state playoffs vs. Clarke Central on Nov. 10.
• Tallied a pair of receptions for 22 yards against Arabia Mountain in the second round of the state playoffs on Nov. 17.
Will Bramel
• Boyle County went 14-1 in 2017, winning the Kentucky 3A state championship with a 40-21 victory over Corbin in the title game.
• Blocked for an offense that averaged 46.3 points, 442.7 yards of total offense and 268.3 yards rushing per game in 2017.
• Caught a nine-yard touchdown pass vs. Mercer County on Oct. 27.
Jack Cravaack
• Maderia went 5-5 in 2017.
• Had five tackles, including a sack, and four PBUs vs. Norwood on Aug. 25.
• Finished with six tackles with a sack against Woodward on Sept. 8.
• Had a sack while helping limit Mariemont to 294 yards of total offense on Sept. 22.
• Maderia held Reading to 239 total yards on Sept. 29.
• Intercepted a pass vs. Wyoming on Oct. 6.
• Recorded sacks vs. Deer Park (Oct. 13) and Finneytown (Oct. 20)
• Had 17 tackles, six sacks and forced two fumbles as a junior in 2016.
Branson Deen
• Lawrence Central went 6-4 in 2017, advancing to the Indiana 6A state playoffs.
• Had 42 total tackles as a senior in 2017.
• Lawrence Central allowed merely 257 yards of total offense to Bishop Chatard on Aug. 25.
• Warren Central amassed only 271 total yards in its Sept. 8 meeting with Lawrence Central.
• Helped lead a defense that held Center Grove to 200 yards of total offense on Sept. 22.
• Assisted in limiting Carmel to 266 total yards on Oct. 13.
• Finished with 14 tackles and a sack as a junior in 2016.
Payne Durham
• Caught 22 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns.
• First team all-county.
• 2017 all-region.
• Voted team captain.
• Played lacrosse prior to moving over to football as a senior.
Lawrence Johnson
• Snider went 11-1 in 2017, advancing to the regional championship of the 6A Indiana state playoffs.
• Finished with 28 total tackles, including eight sacks, as senior in 2017 according to maxpreps.com.
• Helped Snider limit North Side to 203 yards of total offense on Aug. 18.
• Had five tackles with a sack is assisting to limit Carroll to merely 130 yards on Aug. 25.
• Finished with three tackles vs. Concordia Lutheran on Sept. 1.
• Had four tackles with a sack at Homestead on Sept. 15.
• Recorded seven tackles, three solo, vs. Wayne on Sept. 22.
• Tallied eight tackles, including one for loss, at Northrop on Sept. 29.
• Had a season-high 11 total tackles in the regional championship game vs. Carmel on Nov. 10.
• Had 43 tackles — including 11 tackles for loss — to go along with eight sacks and two fumbles forced as a junior in 2016.
Jeff Marks
• Davidson went 7-4 in 2017, advancing to the first round of the Alabama 7A state playoffs.
• Davidson allowed merely 10.2 points per game with two shutouts in 2017.
• Davidson held its opponents to 253 yards or less of total offense seven times in 2017.
• Had 38 tackles with seven sacks as a senior in 2017.
Jimmy McKenna
• Named Division II second team All-Ohio.
• Helped lead Avon to a 13-1 record and berth in the Ohio Division II State Semifinals.
• Blocked for an offense that averaged 394.0 yards per game, including 206.6 on the ground.
Eric Miller
• Led Mason to a 9-3 record and regional semifinals appearance.
• Blocked for an offense that averaged 299.0 yards of offense per game, including 183.8 on the ground.
• Named first team All-GMC.
Byron Perkins
• Led De La Salle Institute to a 6-4 record, including a berth in the Illinois state playoffs.
• Had three interceptions and a fumble recovery in his senior season.
• Also played receiver and returned kickoffs, including a 47-yard return against Mt. Carmel in the team’s 21-14 win.
Jack Plummer
• Threw for 2,822 yards and 35 touchdowns, to just seven interceptions, while completing 58.8 percent of his passes in 10 games for Gilbert.
• Had five 300-yard passing games, including 349 yards against Red Mountain.
• Threw four or more touchdown passes in seven games, including five against Mesquite and Highland.
• Also rushed for 404 yards and seven touchdowns, including a season-high 107 yards on 10 carries against Highland.
• Had seven total touchdowns against Gilbert.
• Threw 69 touchdown passes in three seasons.
• Listed as the No. 30 quarterback in the country by ESPN.com.
• Named to the honorable mention All-USA Arizona High School Team.
Jordan Rucker
• Led team to a 14-1 record, including a berth in the Class 5A Division I state semifinals.
• Had 38 tackles, including 3.0 for loss, on the season.
• Unanimous first team All-District selection.
Kadin Smith
• Had 59 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception and a fumble recovery, both of which were returned for touchdowns, for his senior season at Spencer County.
• Also had 1,170 yards of total offense, including 946 yards on the ground, and 14 touchdowns. • Named Class 4A-District Four Player of the Year.
• Selected as a defensive back for the Best of the Bluegrass All-Star football game.
• All-district selection each of the last three years.
• Named third team All-State as a junior.
• Scored touchdowns four different ways against Woodford County, as he rushed for two touchdowns, had a receiving touchdown, returned an interception for a touchdown and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the team’s 49-7 win.
• Rushed for a season-high 276 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s season opening win against Bardstown.
• Had 233 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Henry County.
• Had at least nine tackles in four games, including 10 against Bullitt Central and Henry County.
KJ Stokes
• Forced two turnovers in Stanhope Elmore’s game against Prattville, with an interception and a fumble.
• Led his team to a playoff berth.
• Named All-Metro as a junior after finishing with 92 tackles, 8.0 for loss, five sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
• Named honorable mention All-Metro as a sophomore.
Jack Sullivan
• Had 20 tackles, including six sacks, an interception and a forced fumble for Plainfield East.
• Had 2.0 sacks in his team’s season-opening win against Joliet Central.
• Had a sack and an interception, which he returned 40 yards, against Oswego.
Kory Taylor
• As a senior, caught 55 passes for 911 yards and nine touchdowns for Hilliard Bradley.
• Led his team to an 11-1 record and back-to-back Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal championships. • Named second team All-Central District as a senior and sophomore.
• Named first team All-OCC as a senior and second team as a sophomore.
• Named preseason Big School second team All-State in Ohio.
Cory Trice
• Had 31 tackles in eight games for Christian County.
• Named the Southern Pennyrile Football Athlete of the Year.
• Named Class 5A-District 1 Player of the Year.
• Selected for the Best of the Bluegrass All-Star Game.
• Named first team All-Western Kentucky Conference.
• Had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the season-opener and returned three punts for touchdowns during the season.
• Scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion against Apollo with a 45-yard interception return and an 86-yard fumble return.
• Recorded three interceptions on the season.