Purdue Releases Availability Report vs. USC — Key DB Listed as Questionable

Multiple Purdue players have been ruled out for Saturday's Big Ten opener against USC. A key defensive back has also been listed as questionable.
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom looks up at the video board
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom looks up at the video board | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue's availability report for Saturday afternoon's Big Ten opener against USC (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) has been released. The Boilermakers will be without five players and key defensive back Crew Wakley is listed as questionable.

Here are the players Purdue will be without for Saturday's contest:

  • #5 Chauncey Magwood, wide receiver (senior)
  • #8 De'Nylon Morrissette, wide receiver (junior)
  • #9 Jalil Hall, wide receiver (freshman)
  • #41 Jon Grimmett, tight end (freshman)
  • #49 Isaiah Needam (freshman)

Wakley, a senior defensive back, is the only player listed as questionable for the Boilermakers.

Both Purdue and USC enter Saturday's game with 2-0 records. The Boilers have wins over Ball State (31-0) and Southern Illinois (34-17). USC has defeated Missouri State (73-13) and Georgia Southern (59-20).

Saturday's game at Ross-Ade Stadium serves as the Big Ten opener for both teams. It is the first meeting between the two programs since the Pigskin Classic in 1998.

Crew Wakley this season

A Purdue Boilermakers helmet sits on the sidelines
A Purdue Boilermakers helmet sits on the sidelines | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Wakley is a senior transfer from BYU, who had 44 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack in 11 games last year. He also made nine starts for the Cougars during the 2024 campaign.

So far this season, Wakley has played in each of Purdue's first two games, tallying three tackles in each contest. He's totaled five solo stops, one tackle for loss and has a pass break-up for the Boilermakers.

Wakley has provided Purdue with quality depth in the secondary early in the 2025 season. If the Boilers are unable to go without him, it could be a problem against an incredibly skilled USC offense, especially one that has been so productive through the air.

USC availability report

USC will be without six players for Saturday's game. Here's USC's availability report for this weekend:

  • #0 Zacharyus Williams, wide receiver (sophomore)
  • #16 Prophet Brown, cornerback (senior)
  • #17 Prince Strachan, wide receiver (junior)
  • #21 Bryan Jackson, running back (sophomore)
  • #27 Alex Graham, cornerback (freshman)
  • #45 Caden Chittenden, kicker (sophomore)

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Dustin Schutte
DUSTIN SCHUTTE

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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