Purdue Football: 3 signees who’ll have instant impact in 2020

Just like Gus Hartwig, Tirek Murphy is a recruit that you want to see take a spot this season. He’s the top-rated running back from the state of New York. He’s better coming out of high school than King Doerue and Da’Joun Hewitt. Moreover, Alexander Horvath wasn’t even recruited to be a running back, he was a linebacker.

Suffice it to say, the Boilermakers need a difference-maker in the backfield.

There are a few reasons Murphy should start. First, he’s flat-out better than anything Purdue has now. Some of their woes in the running game was due to the injuries to the offensive line, but it was also due to not having any explosive playmakers in the backfield.

Second, Murphy fits everything they want to do offensively. He can line up on the perimeter and catch the ball as well as catch the ball out of the backfield.

Most importantly, he can fly. He gives Purdue even more speed offensively. Rondale Moore is a burner, David Bell is no slouch and now add Murphy. Couple that with Maliq Carr who can run for a tight end, and the Boilermakers are going to light up that scoreboard at Ross-Ade Stadium.