North Central WR TJ McWilliams likes Purdue fit: 'They told me I was No. 1 on their list.'

TJ McWilliams needed just 12 days after receiving an offer from Purdue to decide he was ready to end his recruitment.

The North Central wide receiver announced his commitment Sunday to Purdue, picking the Boilermakers over Marshall and Miami of Ohio. The 6-foot, 175-pound McWilliams also had FBS offers from Akron, Army, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami of Ohio, Northern Illinois, Toledo, West Virginia and Western Michigan.

“Purdue had been recruiting me for about eight months,” McWilliams said. “I was really communicating with coach (Jeff) Brohm on what I could do to improve and where I stood on their recruiting board. When I asked, they told me I was No. 1 on their list.”

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McWilliams caught 36 passes for 434 yards and six touchdowns as a junior for North Central, playing alongside senior wide receiver Keyshaun Pipkin, a Northern Illinois recruit who had 44 receptions for 630 yards and three TDs. Those two provided most of the highlights for the Panthers in a 1-9 season.

McWilliams’ father, Terrence, played football at Louisville from 1986-90, the same era Brohm was the Cardinals’ quarterback. He said that connection did not necessarily play a role in his decision to commit to Purdue.

“But my dad helped me with my recruitment,” McWilliams said. “It made it a lot less stressful. He gave me pointers on what to look for.”

His older sister, Jasmine McWilliams, is a former North Central basketball standout who is going into her third season at Northwestern. McWilliams said Minnesota and Northwestern reached out to him the day he was offered by Purdue.

McWilliams, though, was set on Purdue. He watched video of former Purdue standout receivers David Bell and Rondale Moore and Purdue senior Broc Thompson, the former Ben Davis standout who caught seven passes for 217 yards in Purdue’s Music City Bowl win over Tennessee.

“I like the family environment they have there and the coaching staff,” McWilliams said. “They have a pro-style offense I can see myself fitting into.”

McWilliams is rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 15 in-state recruit in the class on the 247Sports composite. Purdue also picked up a commitment from Cathedral receiver Jaron Tibbs, who is rated as the No. 14 in-state prospect on the 247Sports composite.

“I was trying to convince him,” McWilliams said. “I feel like the two of us can pair together pretty well. I can play the outside or the slot and bring a little versatility.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at 317-444-6649.