Report: Purdue Defensive Back Crew Wakley Departs Team
Purdue has reportedly lost a key player in its secondary for the rest of the season. According to On3’s Tom Dienhart, defensive back Crew Wakley has left the team.
Wakley, a 6-foot, 200-pound transfer from BYU, was expected to play a significant role for the Boilermakers this season. However, his time on the field was limited, and he struggled to secure a consistent spot in the rotation.
He appeared in four of Purdue’s first six games, suiting up against Ball State and Southern Illinois early in the season, but missing the Big Ten opener versus USC. Wakley later returned for matchups with Notre Dame and Illinois but did not travel with the team for last weekend’s game at Minnesota.
In those four appearances, Wakley totaled nine tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup.
Before arriving at Purdue, Wakley spent time at Utah State and BYU. He played four games for Utah State in 2021 before transferring to BYU, where he appeared in 23 games over two seasons, earning 16 starts. During his time with the Cougars, he racked up 103 tackles, seven pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss, and three interceptions.
Purdue had hoped that Wakley’s experience would help stabilize a secondary that has struggled in recent years, but injuries and a dip in performance contributed to his falling down the depth chart.
Signs of Progress in Purdue’s Secondary Despite Loss to Minnesota
While the Boilermakers didn’t come away with a win against Minnesota — falling 27-20 — there were some encouraging signs from their defense, particularly the secondary.
Purdue held Minnesota to just 262 total yards, with 232 through the air. The Gophers completed only 21 of 45 passes, and Myles Slusher recorded the team’s first interception of the season.
That defensive showing was a noticeable improvement compared to the previous week, when Purdue gave up 300 yards on eight explosive plays in a loss to Illinois.
Despite the loss dropping Purdue to 2-4 and still winless in Big Ten play since the end of the 2023 season, the performance offers something for coach Barry Odom and his team to build on.
Next up, the Boilermakers head to Evanston to face Northwestern. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
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