Hammer and Rails

An engaging and thought-provoking sports blog dedicated to Purdue athletics, presented by SB Nation.

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91 Days to 2025 Purdue Football Kickoff: CJ Nunnally IV

6 days ago | hammerandrails.com | Drew Schneider

Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images #91 CJ Nunnally IVDefensive End6’3”, 260SeniorDouglasville, GaJackson State to Independence Community College to Akron to Purdue Projection: Potential Starter / Certain DepthNunnally signed with FCS Jackson State after putting up big numbers as a late-developing senior at South Paulding High School. After spending a year on the bench at Jackson State, he transferred to Independence Community College, where he put up 35 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks.
2025 Countdown to Purdue Football

1 week ago | hammerandrails.com | Andrew Ledman |Drew Schneider

Keep your eyes on this space as we countdown the days until kickoff for the 2025 Purdue football season. This will be the first season under former UNLV coach Barry Odom who took the helm this offseason following the firing of Ryan Walters. Purdue has looked to rebuild its roster with over 50+ additions in the offseason.
98 Days To 2025 Kickoff: Drake Carlson

2 weeks ago | hammerandrails.com | Drew Schneider

Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images #98 Drake CarlsonDefensive Line / Defensive Tackle6’3”, 295Redshirt SophomoreNashville, TennesseeProjection: Depth on Defensive LineCarlson came to Purdue out of Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was All-State as both an offensive and defensive lineman in 2021. He was a consensus three-star recruit and chose Purdue over home-state Vanderbilt.
Purdue Football: Post-Spring Defense

3 weeks ago | hammerandrails.com | Drew Schneider

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images Defense is the reason Coach Odom is at Purdue; in fact, defense is the reason Barry Odom is a head coach at any school. His first order of business in West Lafayette is to fix the defense his former protege left in shambles. That means bringing in a new system and a slate of new players. It also means you should take everything in the following article with a giant grain of salt.
Hammer and Rails Readers Reacts Survey - Purdue Football Home Games

3 weeks ago | hammerandrails.com | Kyle Thele |Andrew Ledman

Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Purdue Boilermakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. It’s that time of the week folks when I go in and check the pulse of the fanbase. This week, we are talking about football and more football.
Boiler Alert: Offseason Homework - Gicarri Harris

3 weeks ago | hammerandrails.com | Drew Schneider |Ryan Bonaparte

Drew and Ryan discuss the improvements we’d like to see in Gicarri Harris’s game heading into the ‘25-’26 season. Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Drew steps in for Andrew to discuss Gicarri Harris with Ryan. Drew wants Gicarri to fill the role of defensive stopper for the Boilermakers, and Ryan would like to see him continue to improve his shooting.
Purdue Football: Post Spring Position Assessment: Defensive End

1 month ago | hammerandrails.com | Drew Schneider

Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images I’ll say one nice thing about the former coaching staff: they didn’t leave the cupboard empty at defensive end. When you combine the players that stayed with the arriving players, I think you can put together a respectable position group, if not...Dare I say...a good position group (I dare not, but someone else may be bolder)? That’s good news for Coach Odom. While linebacker is the premier position in his defensive scheme, defensive end is a close second.
Hammer and Rails Readers Reacts Survey - The Sophomore Jump

1 month ago | hammerandrails.com | Kyle Thele

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Purdue Boilermakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Purdue will have three sophomores on next year’s team. I want to know which of the three rising sophomores CJ Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, or Gicarri Harris will make the big jump from their freshman year.
Purdue Football: Post Spring Position Assessment: Tight End

1 month ago | hammerandrails.com | Drew Schneider

Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images As with every position group on the 2025 squad, the transfer portal has played a significant role in shaping the tight end position at Purdue. Last season, the Boilermakers leaned on Max Klare in the passing game, and he played well enough to get the call-up to the big leagues in Columbus. This season, I would be shocked if a tight end led Purdue in receiving. I expect the position to be more blocking-oriented in the new offense.
Purdue Football: NFL Draft / Free Agent Recap

1 month ago | hammerandrails.com | Drew Schneider

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images It was a quiet four days for former Purdue athletes hoping to hear their name called in the NFL draft. This was expected, with Marcus Mbow being the only Purdue player from the 2024-25 season with a solid draft grade. Again, not surprising considering the overall lack of talent on display in West Lafayette last season. Losing all but one Big 10 game is hard work, and that work starts with a lack of draftable talent.