Purdue Adds Former Houston, West Virginia Defensive Back to Secondary
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Purdue's massive transfer portal class for the 2025 season got even bigger on Tuesday. The Boilermakers earned a commitment from former Houston and West Virginia defensive back Hershey McLaurin.
A 6-foot-2, 210-pound defensive back, McLaurin comes to Purdue after spending the 2024 season at Houston. In his lone season with the Cougars, he racked up 50 tackles, including eight for loss. He also had four passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble.
Prior to his time at Houston, McLaurin spent two seasons at West Virginia. Across two seasons (2022-23) with the Mountaineers, the defensive back accounted for 89 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four passes defended.
Thank you God. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/W3iwFPB6lO
— MarquesMclaurin (@marques1mc) May 6, 2025
McLaurin also spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons playing at Jones County Junior College. He will have one year of eligibility to use in West Lafayette.
Purdue has been incredibly active in the transfer portal since the arrival of Barry Odom and his staff. The Boilermakers have added 55 players via transfer, which includes more than 20 during the spring.
It's been a complete overhaul in West Lafayette since the conclusion of the 2024 campaign. McLaurin becomes the latest piece to the puzzle as the Boilers prepare for the 2025 college football season.
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BOILERS GET UCONN KICKER FROM PORTAL: Purdue has added a kicker and punter to its roster ahead of the 2025 season, landing a pledge from Seth Turner out of UConn. He has three years of eligibility. CLICK HERE
FCS DEFENSIVE END COMMITS TO PURDUE: Former Monmouth defensive end Miles Mitchell announced his commitment to Purdue over the weekend. He will have one year of eligibility with the Boilermakers. CLICK HERE
APPLEBY RETURNING TO PURDUE AS STAFFER: Austin Appleby, a former Purdue and Florida quarterback, is returning to West Lafayette as a member of Barry Odom's offensive staff. CLICK HERE
Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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