WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Starting off the calendar year and heading into his first season as head coach of Purdue Football, Ryan Walters and his coaching staff hit the recruiting road to add 10 Boilermakers to the 2023 signing class.
Purdue brought in four high school prospects on the Feb. 1 National Signing Day, while six transfers joined the team for the upcoming season. Walters' first signing class totals 22 new Boilermakers heading into spring ball after 12 prospects inked their National Letters of Intent during the December signing period.
"Our staff spent the past month scouring the country for the newest Boilermakers to join the brotherhood," said Walters. "This group, along with the guys we signed in December, will be a special one as part of our first signing class. I am excited for them to join us here in West Lafayette. The time is now!"
Walters and his staff made a splash in the transfer portal. Quarterback Hudson Card decided to continue his career at Purdue after three seasons at Texas. Anthony Brown (safety) and Isaiah Nichols (defensive lineman), teammates at Arkansas, look to provide an instant impact on Walters' Boilermaker defense. Also on that side of the ball, cornerback Salim Turner-Muhammad arrives in West Lafayette as a graduate transfer. Jalen Grant brings experience to Purdue as a starter on the Bowling Green offensive line for the past three years. Joining Grant to the o-line room is Issiah Walker, who spent last season at Butler Community College following stops at Florida and Miami (FL).
Four high school prospects signed their National Letters of Intent on the first day of February. Walters and his staff went after versatility in signing athletes Arhmad Branch, Mondrell Dean and Derrick Rogers Jr. Making his decision to stay in state and become a Boilermaker, McCordsville, Indiana, native George Burhenn joins the Purdue tight ends heading into the 2023 season.
The entire class, along with information about each signee, can be found below.
2023 Purdue Football Signing Day Class
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (High School/Previous School) |
| Winston Berglund | S/LB | 6-2 | 200 | Carmel, Ind. (Carmel) |
| Arhmad Branch | ATH | 6-0 | 175 | Festus, Mo. (Festus) |
| Anthony Brown | DB | 6-0 | 180 | Milan, Tenn. (Milan/Arkansas) |
| Ryan Browne | QB | 6-4 | 205 | Venice, Fla. (Milford Academy) |
| George Burhenn | TE | 6-5 | 220 | McCordsville, Ind. (Mt. Vernon) |
| Hudson Card | QB | 6-2 | 200 | Austin, Texas (Lake Travis/Texas) |
| Drake Carlson | DL | 6-3 | 280 | Nashville, Tenn. (Father Ryan) |
| Ethon Cole | S | 6-1 | 195 | Clermont, Fla. (Lake Minneola) |
| Owen Davis | LB | 6-3 | 220 | Richwood, Ohio (North Union) |
| Mondrell Dean | ATH | 6-3 | 240 | Charleston, W. Va. (Hurricane) |
| Jalen Grant | OL | 6-3 | 285 | Chicago, Ill. (Mount Carmel/Bowling Green) |
| Zion Gunn | CB | 6-2 | 180 | Orlando, Fla. (Winter Park) |
| Jamarrion Harkless | DT | 6-3 | 310 | Lexington, Ky. (Frederick Douglas) |
| Will Heldt | DE | 6-6 | 235 | Carmel, Ind. (Carmel) |
| Jimmy Liston | OL | 6-3 | 280 | Hinsdale, Ill. (IMG Academy) |
| Isaiah Nichols | DL | 6-3 | 315 | Springdale, Ark. (Springdale/Arkansas) |
| Derrick Rogers Jr. | ATH | 6-1 | 170 | Orlando, Fla. (Jones) |
| Ryne Shackelford | WR | 6-0 | 175 | Elyria, Ohio (Keystone) |
| Dillon Thieneman | S | 6-0 | 200 | Carmel, Ind. (Carmel) |
| Jaron Tibbs | WR | 6-3 | 195 | Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral) |
| Salim Turner-Muhammad | CB | 5-11 | 190 | Corona, N.Y. (Episcopal/Stanford) |
| Issiah Walker | OT | 6-5 | 285 | Miami, Fla. (Miami Norland/Butler C.C.) |
Arhmad Branch
HIGH SCHOOL
● A four-star prospect ranked as the No. 22 recruit from Missouri and the No. 126 wide receiver according to 247Sports
● Named to the 2022 Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State team
● Put up 900 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior
● Became his school's record holder for both career and single-season receptions, touchdowns and receiving yards
● A three-sport athlete in high school, he was an all-state point guard and was all-sectional in the triple jump
PERSONAL
● Full Name: Arhmad Sedeano Branch
● Son of Leslie and April
● Has two siblings, Leuntae and Aaliyah
● Plans on majoring in Marketing
▶ @arhmad1branch pic.twitter.com/ggXPGbQ6D3
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023
Anthony Brown
● On the roster for one season at Arkansas, taking a redshirt
● Was a consensus three-star prospect coming out of high school
● Rated the No. 18 player in Tennessee and No. 43 safety in the country according to Rivals
● Was a finalist for the Class 3A Mr. Football Award and named All-West Tennessee Offensive Player of the Year
● Logged 64 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and nine pass breakups
PERSONAL
● Has one brother, Adonus Madison
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023Another transfer that is here and ready to go.@isaiahnichols93 is a Boilermaker!
George Burhenn
HIGH SCHOOL
● A consensus three-star prospect
● Ranked as the No. 43 tight-end in the nation and the No. 12 recruit in the state of Indiana by 247Sports
● One of 12 players nominated for the 2022 Indiana High School Sports Mr. Football Award
● Racked up 38 catches for 784 yards and nine touchdowns through the air with 127 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in his senior season
● Won the Indiana Class 4A state title as a junior with Mt. Vernon
● Named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association's Top 50 All-State team as a senior
● Chosen as the top tight end in the state in 2022 by the IFCA
● A three-sport athlete at Mt. Vernon, also competed in basketball and track. He was fifth in the state as a junior in the 300-meter hurdles
● Named the Daily Reporter Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year
PERSONAL
● Full Name: Arhmad Sedeano Branch
● Son of Leslie and April
● Has two siblings, Leuntae and Aaliyah
● Plans on majoring in Marketing
▶ @GeorgeBurhenn pic.twitter.com/nwbXdluBqq
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023
Hudson Card
● Spent three seasons at Texas, seeing action in two
● Played in 22 games for the Longhorns, starting five
● Went 127-for-194 (65%) for 1,523 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air and only threw two interceptions
● Career game came against West Virginia (10/01/22) when he threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-20 win, earning him Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Player of the Week honorable mention honors
● Completed 14-of-22 passes for 158 yards against Alabama after entering on the last play of the first quarter
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023You already knew...@Hcard7 is on campus and ready for spring ball!
Mondrell Dean
HIGH SCHOOL
● A consensus three-star prospect
● Ranked as the No. 2 prospect from West Virginia and the No. 120 edge in the nation by On3
● Won the Huff Award from the West Virginia Sports Writers Association as the premier defensive player in the state
● Tabbed as the All-Kanawha Valley Player of the Year by the Charleston Gazette-Mail
● Played both sides of the ball for Hurricane High School.
● As a senior, rushed for 617 yards on 76 carries with 16 touchdowns while making 139 total tackles with 24 for a loss and 11 sacks on defense. Also five pass defenses and four forced fumbles
● On the basketball court, averaged 15.1 points per game with 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game
PERSONAL
● Full Name: Mondrell K. Dean
● Son of Al Dean and Vondrell Foster
● Has five siblings, Cameron, Jervon, Markale, Markiesha and Robert
▶ @DeanMondrell pic.twitter.com/oDBiroYELl
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023
Jalen Grant
● Played for three years at both left guard and center for Bowling Green
● Appeared in all 30 games the team played in during that time, starting in 27 of them
● Played 658 snaps at left guard and 154 plays at center in 2022
● Saw action in all five of the Falcon's games in 2020 as a true freshman, helping the team to Top 50 rankings in rushing offense, sacks allowed and yards per completion
PERSONAL
● Plans on majoring is pre-exercise science
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023You'll want to check out his Twitter name. 🚂🚂
Bringing experience to the Purdue o-line, @Jalen_Grant99!
Isaiah Nichols
● Spent four years at Arkansas, playing in three with a redshirt
● Saw action in 49 games for the Razorbacks, starting 23
● Recorded 80 tackles, 6.0 for a loss, and 2.5 sacks in three seasons
● Logged a career-high six tackles against Alabama (12/12/20)
● His best performance of the 2021 season came with four tackles in a 24-10 win over Penn State (1/1/22)
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023Another transfer that is here and ready to go.@isaiahnichols93 is a Boilermaker!
Derrick Rogers Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL
● A consensus three-star prospect
● Ranked as the No. 145 wide receiver in the class by 247Sports
● Hauled in 49 receptions for 920 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior
● Recognized as one of the top performers at the 2022 ESPN Elite Underclassmen Camp
● Named to the 2022 Orlando All-Metro Conference team
● Included in the Orlando Sentinel's Central Florida Super60
● Related to Detroit Lions safety Kirby Joseph, who played under head coach Ryan Walters at Illinois
PERSONAL
● Full Name: Derrick Devon Rogers Jr.
● Son of Derrick Rogers and Latoya Hayes
▶ @kantguard2 pic.twitter.com/asiFQiD7D9
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023
Salim Turner-Muhammad
● Spent four years at Stanford, playing in three with a redshirt
● Played in 21 total games in his career for the Cardinal
● Made 34 total tackles with two passes defended and a forced fumble over three seasons
● Logged a career-high five tackles with one for a loss in an upset win at No. 23 Washington
● Three-time Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll honoree (2020, 2021, 2022)
PERSONAL
● Full Name: Salim Ali Turner-Muhammad
● Son of Rita Bridgewater Turner and David Turner
● Has six siblings, Khairi, Aisha, David, Jabril, Niya and Khalil
▶ @TurnerSalim pic.twitter.com/MNClgwyagY
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023
Issiah Walker
HIGH SCHOOL
● Ranked as the No. 127 overall junior college recruit and the No. 19 OT from the junior college ranks
● Played right tackle for one season Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. Had previous stops at Florida and Miami (FL)
● Out of high school, was a consensus four-star prospect.
● Ranked as the No. 13 OT in the nation and the No. 24 recruit from the state of Florida
● Named to the inaugural Sports Illustrated All-American team in 2019 alongside the likes of Bryce Young and Jaxon Smith-Njigba
▶ @walker_issiah pic.twitter.com/gDXxXxaNa2
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) February 1, 2023
