A group that struggled mightily to get open last season for Purdue has been boosted with new talent from all over the country. Purdue made a great effort to sign players who are physical, tough, and fast for this group. The Boilers lost their top three wide receivers, two to graduation and one to the portal, but the group on the roster now is better than last season.
The Impact Departures
Michael Jackson III is now gone after running out of eligibility, as well as EJ Horton; those two were 1st and
3rd respectively, on the team in receiving yards. The key departures to the transfer portal were Nitro Tuggle, who showed promise and had the #1 role carved out for this season, but who understandably chased cash elsewhere. Arhmad Branch, who was a dynamic playmaker, left town as well, but was lightly used outside of the return game after the first few games of the season.
Key Returning Players
- De’Nylon Morrissette
- Corey Smith
- Chauncey Magwood
- Jesse Watson
Morrissette was set to be one of the top wide receivers on the 2025 roster before an injury ended his season before it even started. He has the potential, if healthy, to lead this group of wide receivers during the fall. Corey Smith, a Tulsa transfer, had a decent season last year after coming back to his home state from Tulsa, hauling in 14 catches for 200+ yards. Magwood, like Morrissette, battled injuries last season and did not have a real chance to produce, but he has the ability if healthy. From the group listed above, Watson could be the dynamic playmaker in the slot. He is an explosive route runner and played in all 12 games last season.
New Comers – Portal Edition
- Asaad Waseem
- Xavier Townsend
- Jaylan Hornsby
- Bisi Owens
Asaad Waseem produced out of the slot last season at FAU. He reeled in 66 balls for 699 yards and five touchdowns. He and Watson will have a great camp competition for the starting slot role this fall. Hornsby and Owens are what I see the Purdue offensive staff wanting their outside wide receivers to be. Big, Physical, and Fast. While Hornsby did not produce a ton at Syracuse, he has the physical capabilities to play a lot of snaps for the Boilermakers this fall. Owens may be the biggest unknown of the group, but he produced at Penn in the Ivy League, where he was an all-league player. He caught 66 passes for 696 yards and five touchdowns. At 6-4, 220 pounds, he has the frame and ability to be a mainstay on the offense. Townsend from Iowa State is another player who could make an impact and is trying to find his footing after starting just one game for the Cyclones. He had 18 catches for 243 yards in his previous season there.
Young Prospects
- Jalil Hall
- Brandon Kinsey
- JoJo Johnson
Jalil Hall at 6-4, 185 pounds, is another option for the outside who is a big body. He took a redshirt last season, but was a 3-star prospect coming out of college. Kinsey and JoJo Johnson are both incoming freshmen. Kinsey is heading to the Boiler State from Miami, FL, out of powerhouse HS Miami Central. He could be an early-impact wide receiver for Barry Odom. JoJo Johnson is another tall and lanky wide receiver who spent a year at a prep school, but eligibility-wise is a true freshman who looks to get into the mix early as well.
Overall
Losing Nitro Tuggle was a loss, but Purdue did a good job of replacing him with proven production from other schools. This group, I think, has a high ceiling. The wide receivers from the 2025 season are a good mix of transfers, carryovers, and young talent who will try to make an immediate impact.
