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GoldandBlack.com's Purdue Spring Depth Chart: Defense

On3 imageby: Tom Dienhart04/13/26TomDienhart1

With 15 spring practices in the book, Purdue enters the offseason with some questions answered–and others still looming.

How will the team line up when the Boilermakers open camp to prepare for the 2026 season on vs. Indiana State?

GoldandBlack.com’s projected post-spring defensive depth chart.

Pos. Player, ClassPlayer, Class
E CJ Madden, Sr.Elo Modozie, Sr.
T TJ Lindsey, So.Curt Neal, Sr.
T Ian Jeffries, Jr.Wisdom Simms, Sr.
E Trey Smith, Jr.Jeremy Lewis, Jr.
LB Charles Correa, Jr.Anthony Speca, Jr.
LB Jojo Hayden, Jr.Winston Berglund, Jr.
CB Don Saunders, Sr.Dee Newsome, Jr.
CB Hudauri Hines, Jr.Ryan Turner, Sr.
S John Slaughter, Sr. Ta’Vari Hampton, So.
S Jaden Mangham, Sr.Justin Denson, So.
NB Smiley Bradford, Jr.Mister Clark, Jr.

NOTES:

LINE: Pass rushers are needed with CJ Nunnally gone. Keep an eye on Lewis, a JC transfer. There are high hopes for Modozie (Georgia), a prized portal addition with a burst. Smith has changed his body and could be poised for big things. It’s now or never for Madden. The interior tandem of Lindsey and Jeffries could be a cut above. It needs to be with Chops Harkless (Kentucky) and Demeco Kennedy (Louisville) gone.

LINEBACKERS: Correa is the heartbeat of the defense. He’s the ultimate blue-collar warrior who needs to carry the flag with Mani Powell gone. Hayden (Illinois) is a jumbo ‘backer who can stuff the run. Speca is a quick-striker from Penn State who can run. Is Berglund ready for more? Depth falls off quickly.

CORNERBACKS: This unit has gotten bigger. Purdue got a gem in Saunders, a confident and rangy corner from Utah. Hines is a physical corner who continues to develop. The portal brought depth in Newsome (Samford), another long corner. Tre Wright adds depth, along with Turner.

SAFETIES: Mangham (Michigan) and Denson (Michigan State) bring beaucoup experience. Purdue tried to land Slaughter (Colorado) in 2024; it got him this season. Bradford is a rising star at nickel, with Clark (FIU) arriving with a strong resume. The staff added two JC safeties in Hampton and Dax Noles.

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