WEST LAFAYETTE – Purdue football can make a bold statement when it releases its first depth chart of the season.
Stop quibbling about whether sophom*ore Will Heldt qualifies as a rush end or an outside linebacker, or a buck or a fox in the Boilermakers’ positional parlance. Defensive coordinator Kevin Kane called him a “terminator” this week. Outside linebackers coach Joe Dineen called him a “monster.”
Purdue should slap one of those designations next to Heldt’s name and let the Big Ten know who they consider their alpha up front. As the lone holdover from the edge rusher group, the sophom*ore from Carmel has already put that responsibility on himself.
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“Being in my second year in the scheme, I feel like I have a much better feel for what's going on,” Heldt said. “So being able to use that and acting fast and just using my abilities, my length, my speed to win."
Purdue ranked third among Big Ten teams with 35 sacks last season. That number becomes more impressive the closer you look. It ranked second in sacks per game with 2.92 — by far the best since Ray Edwards and Rob Ninkovich led the 2004 squad to the same average. Its sack percentage of .0864 edged national champion Michigan for second in the conference behind Penn State.
Then those sacks started dispersing around the field, and the country. Nic Scourton, the conference’s individual leader, took 10.5 of them to Texas A&M. Purdue moved 7.5 of those sacks off the line when Kydran Jenkins transitioned to Mike linebacker.
Coach Ryan Walters’ defense thrives on pressure, and Heldt alone cannot supply it. The search for the Predator or Predators to attack opposite his Terminator continues during preseason camp.
“I don't think you can compare last year to this year,” Dineen said. “If we go out and do what we're supposed to do — rush at a high level — the numbers will come. The rush complemented with the coverage I think is going to help these guys quite a bit.”
The three most likely candidates all came in last winter via the transfer portal. All three are making good impressions during camp.
Georgia transfer CJ Madden remained limited during Thursday’s practice. He participated in drills but wore a red non-contact pullover. From the beginning of camp, he most often worked opposite Heldt with the No. 1 defense during the periods open to the media.
Listed at 263 pounds, Dineen suggested Madden's actual weight might be even higher. Yet he still “runs like an inside linebacker.”
“Being able to move at that height and weight is unbelievable,” Heldt said. “Especially playing that fox position, that's going to be crucial for us.”
Boston College transfer sh*ttah Silah chose Purdue in part due to the pressure the defense proved it could create last season. Dineen called him possibly the twitchiest player in the group.
“Coming out the transfer portal, I was looking for a place that had a great scheme that I feel like worked to my strengths,” Silah said. "This defense is perfect. We’re very aggressive. We get to the quarterback, and that really stood out.”
Jireh Ojata took a wide-body number — 99 — befitting his wider frame. Like Madden, though, his athleticism allows him to win off the edge. The transfer from Division III Franklin College appears in contention for a rotational role to start the season.
“From where he was first day of spring ball to now, it's almost like a different guy,” Dineen said. “So that's credit to his work ethic ,and (strength coach Kiero Small) getting him right in the weight room. He just came out to camp with a new mindset, and it's been really fun to watch.”
Kane emphasized the pass rush won’t fall only to those with a hand in the dirt on the line. He said the interior defensive line has also shown progress. Perhaps most importantly, the talent added in the secondary may contribute to the wholistic search for pressure.
“We’re going to be able to cover people better, and because of that it’s going to allow people a little bit more time to go get the quarterback,” Kane said. “If we can give everybody a 1-on-1, you can’t just say it’s KJ, can’t just say it’s this guy.
“If we’ve got four or five guys up there who have the ability to win, now you have five or six 1-on-1s where, oh shoot, this is a problem.”
Still, it doesn’t hurt to have a terminator. Heldt will be back — and he wants to bring the quarterback-hasselling reputation Purdue built last season along with him.
“As the only guy returning in my room from last year, I feel a little bit of a responsibility to lead — bring that pass rush that we had from the previous years and keep the standard, the standard,” Heldt said.
Follow IndyStar Purdue Insider Nathan Baird on X at @nwbaird.
