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Crew Wakley is no longer a member of the Purdue football team. The 25-year-old defensive back reportedly left the program midway through the season.
It’s the latest turn in a dramatic college football journey that’s taken him to three different stops.
His future remains unclear. He may be able to find a new home after saving a season of eligibility. Wakley appeared in four games for the Boilermakers in 2025.
Who is Crew Wakley?
The former two-star prospect from Sandy, UT signed with the Utah State Aggies as a quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class. After serving a two-year church mission, he began his college football career.
Wakley transitioned to defense, but constant staff turnover caused him to briefly leave football behind. After a short stint selling solar panels, he opted to join BYU as a walk-on safety.
In Provo, he tallied 103 tackles, three picks, and seven pass breakups. Unfortunately, he says he was forced out.
After the 2024 Wakley claims that coaches hinted at a slide down the depth chart. He entered the portal and landed at Purdue, but not without providing drama on his way out the door.
The safety attempted to expose BYU.
Decreased playing time was a concern for Crew Wakley. So, too, was BYU’s NIL outlook.
After leaving the Cougars, the safety made claims of shady dealings.
NIL payments were slashed significantly in the offseason leading up to the ’24 campaign. [Teammate Isaiah] Bagnah said that starters’ payouts dropped by more than 50% while most walk-ons would get nothing. The collective allegedly hit players with an ultimatum – sign now or no cash…
Wakley also noted a non-compete clause listed in the agreement. Players couldn’t “build their own brands” because it wouldn’t “align with Royal Blue.” He recalled teammates being fired for inking outside deals.
Wakley also alleged that the school withheld NIL payments during transfer portal windows to keep players from leaving, though a former teammate denied the claims.
The drama didn’t end there.
Wakley was also accused of leaking intel to Big 12 rival Arizona State ahead of a 2024 matchup. It was rumored that he gave the gameplan to the brother of Sun Devils QB Sam Leavitt. The Cougars lost, preventing them from playing for a conference title.
Wakley called the accusations false after the fact.
“Once a week I would go over to his house and we’d watch film on the team I was going to play that week,” he said on the Loyal Cougars Podcast. “Everything we watched was Kansas State. We are looking at Baylor. We are looking at the opponents. Never once did we watch any BYU film.”
Wakley’s departure from Provo was eventful. His exit from Purdue was short-lived.
Crew Wakley has left his third college football program.
He transferred to Purdue in the offseason. It was announced this week that he was no longer a member of the roster. That news comes in the wake of a demotion.
Wakley appeared in just four games. He did not play a defensive snap in his most recent contest against Illinois. The decision might’ve come as a way to save his final season of eligibility.
The defensive back totaled nine tackles with the Boilermakers. He’s now left every school he’s been associated with.
It will be interesting to see what’s next for Wakley. Will he play another down of college football?