When George Karlaftis says he lives close to Purdue, he’s sort of underselling it.



The five-star defensive end’s home in West Lafayette, Ind., is a mile north of campus, but it feels more like just a couple blocks. His mom Amy says the drive over to Ross-Ade Stadium takes two minutes.



Karlaftis did not make his commitment to Purdue in the fall of 2017 purely out of convenience. Growing up, Purdue has long been a constant. Amy Karlaftis graduated from Purdue, and so did all four of her siblings. Her parents were big enough fans of the school that their youngest son’s middle name is Purdue. She works for their company, which owns and manages rental properties all over campus.



And now her oldest son gets to carry on their proud tradition in an immense way.



“There’s nothing like playing for your hometown,” George Karlaftis told The Athletic. “To feel like a hometown hero is pretty cool.”



Still, the...