WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Football took the practice field on Friday (Aug. 8) ahead of its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday.
A defensive leader at the linebacker position, Mani Powell, was named to the Butkus Award Watch List that honors the nation's top linebacker. Powell spent the 2024 season with linebacker Charles Correa at UNLV under head coach Barry Odom and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Scherer after he spent the 2023 season at Arkansas with linebacker Alex Sanford Jr.
“They mesh really well,” said Scherer. “I have special pride in our linebacker room. Having the experience we have together over the years, there’s an added benefit to that… All of those guys working together, they have a friendship, bond and understanding that they need each other.”
In his true freshman season at UNLV in 2024, Correa appeared in all 14 games with two starts and accumulated 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble. Heading into his sophomore season, Correa knew it was a no-brainer to follow Odom to Purdue.
"Coach Odom and Coach Scherer, I can go on and on about the good things they bring to college football, to each young man they coach and everyone around them," said Correa. "Being from Hawaii, family is everything. Being part of a family atmosphere is truly special. Being able to find that in the craziness of college football these days is rare, and Coach Odom is who I want to play for."
Sanders Ellis is one of eight new additions to the linebacker room and joins the Boilermakers after he was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, presented to the top freshman in the FCS, and finished fifth in voting. He totaled 86 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss and three fumble recoveries at Tennessee State to earn FCS All-American status.
"I'm glad to be here and be part of what Coach Odom is doing," said Ellis. "Coach Odom is a leader of men. He's a great coach and he wants the best for you."
The Boilermakers will have their first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday (Aug. 9), closed to the public and media, before returning to practice on Monday (Aug. 11).
