WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football took to the field for its second of three practices in week four of spring ball on Thursday morning.
Defensive backs coach Charles Clark, who joined Purdue after five seasons at Memphis, addressed the media for the first time in West Lafayette. Veteran defensive backs Tony Grimes and Crew Wakley also took their first availably as Boilermakers.
"I love the fact that (defensive coordinator) Coach Scherer has an eager mind to continue to grow," said Clark. "We're not sold on anything other than being good on defense and whatever that looks like. Whatever the case may be, we have to be versatile."
Grimes is one of the most experienced players on the 2025 roster with 49 games played since his debut in 2020. After he didn't appear in any games in 2023 at Texas A&M, Grimes resurrected his career in 2024 at UNLV under head coach Barry Odom's guidance.
"I went to A&M, and it didn't work out how I wanted it to," said Grimes. "Then Coach Odom took me in out of the portal when, honestly, no one really wanted me. When he took me in, he gave me that confidence back that I needed."
Wakley, like Grimes, is a veteran player but had an untraditional path after he started playing collegiately at age 20 after a two-year mission trip for his church. After spending 2020-21 at Utah State, he took a gap year and sold solar panels in California before returning to football at BYU in 2023.
Now a Boilermaker, Wakley brings unique experience both on and off the field that he is using to guide other members of the program.
"Having a smooth transition has made it easy to be here," said Wakley. "When you've experienced a lot, you learn a lot. I've tried to pass that on to the younger dudes and continue to better myself every day."
Purdue is set to wrap up week four of spring ball with a scrimmage on Saturday morning.
Defensive backs coach Charles Clark, who joined Purdue after five seasons at Memphis, addressed the media for the first time in West Lafayette. Veteran defensive backs Tony Grimes and Crew Wakley also took their first availably as Boilermakers.
"I love the fact that (defensive coordinator) Coach Scherer has an eager mind to continue to grow," said Clark. "We're not sold on anything other than being good on defense and whatever that looks like. Whatever the case may be, we have to be versatile."
Grimes is one of the most experienced players on the 2025 roster with 49 games played since his debut in 2020. After he didn't appear in any games in 2023 at Texas A&M, Grimes resurrected his career in 2024 at UNLV under head coach Barry Odom's guidance.
"I went to A&M, and it didn't work out how I wanted it to," said Grimes. "Then Coach Odom took me in out of the portal when, honestly, no one really wanted me. When he took me in, he gave me that confidence back that I needed."
Wakley, like Grimes, is a veteran player but had an untraditional path after he started playing collegiately at age 20 after a two-year mission trip for his church. After spending 2020-21 at Utah State, he took a gap year and sold solar panels in California before returning to football at BYU in 2023.
Now a Boilermaker, Wakley brings unique experience both on and off the field that he is using to guide other members of the program.
"Having a smooth transition has made it easy to be here," said Wakley. "When you've experienced a lot, you learn a lot. I've tried to pass that on to the younger dudes and continue to better myself every day."
Purdue is set to wrap up week four of spring ball with a scrimmage on Saturday morning.