25 Purdue football storylines entering 2025 fall camp

Year one begins for Barry Odom on Thursday. The Boilermakers will take the field of the Kozuch Football Performance Complex to begin fall camp ahead of the 2025 season. Prognosticators expect little from Purdue, who came dead-last in the Cleveland.com media poll ahead of Big Ten Media Days. But, Odom will hope to invigorate some first year magic like Joe Tiller and Jeff Brohm did in 1997 and 2017, respectively.

With 82 new players on the roster, West Lafayette doesn’t lack for storylines ahead of the campaign. Today, GoldandBlack.com will look at 25 of the biggest items to follow during fall camp.

1. LOW EXPECTATIONS

Yes, Purdue came 18th out of the 18 Big Ten programs in the preseason poll for the second straight season. And, the oddsmakers don’t seem optimistic about the Boilermakers. FanDuel set Purdue’s win total at 3.5 with the “under” to -245, indicating tremendous confidence in Purdue winning three or fewer games this fall. No doubt, Odom’s players know the grim outlook that the media and oddsmakers projected upon their program.

“I think everybody in our organization knows what people think about us,” fessed Odom. “So, the respect factor on what we need to do, on just keep blinders on, let’s go work. And in 37 days, we get to kick it off and see how good we can get.”

2. BROWNE IS BACK

Ryan Browne’s decision to return to Purdue perfectly embodies the transfer portal era. In December, following the firing of Ryan Walters, Browne entered the transfer portal, settling on North Carolina and Bill Belichick. Then, after spring practice, he re-entered the portal, took a visit to his old stomping grounds in West Lafayette and quickly pledged to return to Purdue.

“I feel like Purdue has always been home, and it felt right to come back,” Browne told GoldandBlack.com following his decision to return to Purdue. “When I got on campus, it felt the same, but it felt different in all the best ways, and it felt right. That was really what it was.”

3. CAN HE BE SUPPLANTED?

Odom would like to name a quarterback sooner rather than later. Who wouldn’t? It’s an open competition heading into fall camp between Browne, Malachi Singleton, Evans Chuba and Bennett Meredith. But context clues may tell the story. It’s no secret that Purdue’s quarterbacks didn’t shine in spring practice, and Purdue made the move to bring Browne back to West Lafayette. However, history tells us that more than one man will take snaps for the Boilermakers this fall. The last time the same Boilermaker started all 12 games at quarterback? David Blough, way back in 2016.

“The sooner that we can identify who’s going to be our starter, probably the better for our team. But, also, I think it’s going to take more than one guy at that position to play winning football this year,” said Odom at Media Days.

4. A FAMILIAR FACE

The vast majority of Purdue’s roster didn’t attend Purdue a season ago. The program looks night-and-day different in many ways than it did just three years ago at this time. One constant remains, though: Devin Mockobee.

He came to Purdue as a walk-on from Boonville, and he did so quietly. But, he showed flashes in a blowout win over Indiana State in 2022, and he immediately saw an uptick in reps. Before long, Mockobee became the big man on campus. He enters his final season less than 1,200 yards away from becoming the leading rusher in program history. Can he do it? Purdue last saw a tailback hit the 1,000-yard mark in 2008 when Kory Sheets did so.

“I look at really the values of Purdue, you know. And I’ve started talking about the ‘Purdue way’ on toughness and discipline, trustworthiness. Devin embodies all of that,” said Odom. “He does it every single day, on his habits, his work ethic. He’s got respect in the locker room. He has been able to help galvanize all the newcomers with the returning players and the high school guys that we had come in. Certainly excited for him to represent our program.”

5. WANTED: PLAYMAKERS

Purdue faced many problems in 2024. One of them: a lack of playmakers on the outside. The receiver room saw substantial turnover following the season. Mockobee leads all returning pass-catchers after a 17-catch, 170-yard campaign, hardly astronomical statistics. The top returning wide receiver? De’Nylon Morrissette, who hauled in 11 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Playmakers on the outside must emerge for Purdue to exceed expectations in 2025.

6. TOUTED WIDEOUT RETURNS HOME

Nitro Tuggle. The name just feels like a wide receiver. When he came out of NorthWood HS in Nappanee, Ind., On3 rated him a four-star recruit and 127th nationally in the class of 2024. Purdue recruited him at the time, but he elected to head to Athens, Ga. and become a Bulldog. He saw limited action as a true freshman before returning to his Indiana roots in the spring portal window.

Purdue will look for him to live up to his billing as a prep prospect. At 6-1, he offers some size to go along with an athletic profile that drips with potential. While he’ll need to earn a spot in Purdue’s rotation out wide, it would provide a spark to the offense if he’s ready for a heavy workload.

7. KNOWN COMMODITIES… TO SOME

There’s a theory in the transfer portal world to track connected moves. While the players who followed Odom from UNLV will, rightfully, earn plenty of attention, some players followed assistants to West Lafayette, too. Two of those reside in the wide receiver room: USC transfer Charles Ross and UCF transfer Chauncey Magwood.

Ross tagged along with offensive coordinator Josh Henson, while Magwood came north with quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw. While Purdue fans don’t know what to expect from these two, the coaches brought them in for a reason. Can they become veteran staples of Purdue’s wide receiver room?

8. BURHENN’S HEALTH

Perhaps the most talented player on the roster, George Burhenn has dealt with no shortage of injuries in his two seasons as a Boilermaker. With Max Klare taking the lion’s share of the snaps in Purdue’s 11-personnel-exclusive offense a season ago, Burhenn’s production remains limited to a big game in the 2023 Old Oaken Bucket clash. In that one, he grabbed five passes for 74 yards to help Purdue win late.

He went down with a leg injury in spring practice, adding to his list of setbacks, but Odom says he’s ready to go for Thursday’s first practice. Purdue will need him early and often this season.

“It’s amazing,” Odom said of Burhenn’s recovery. “The injury that he had and what he’s done recovery wise ― he’ll be cleared for practice one.”

9. A BIG ADDITION

Purdue’s pipeline from Georgia remained active this winter. Another one-time Purdue 2024 target, Marques Easley, left Athens and came closer to home. Easley, a Chicagoland product, drew major interest as a four-star recruit in 2024. Standing 6-5 and weighing in at 345 pounds, it’s hard to miss him. And, like his Georgia compadres, his potential is limitless.

The question: how close to his potential is he? Can he play major snaps as a redshirt freshman? If so, he raises the ceiling for a position group that’s struggled for years at Purdue.

10. A GREAT STORY CONTINUES

Year two of Joey Tanona’s comeback begins now. At one point, it didn’t look like this day would come. Tanona signed with Notre Dame as a highly-touted recruit from Zionsville, but injuries from an automobile accident caused him to retire from football. But, after a few seasons away from the sport, he returned when he transferred to Purdue ahead of the 2024 season.

Tanona took the field for 78 snaps as he reacquainted to the sport last fall, but he seems primed for a larger role this season. Can he become the anchor at left tackle?

11. CAN THE O-LINE GEL?

That’s the question. It’s a position group that’s haunted Purdue for much of its recent history. Now, offensive line coach Vance Vice has a brand new crew to work with. As fall camp progresses, Purdue will hope to establish a unit capable of battling in the Big Ten.

How many linemen does Purdue feel comfortable playing? The closer to double digits, the better.

12. WHAT WILL THE OFFENSE LOOK LIKE?

Henson arrives from Southern Cal, but he did not call plays for offensive guru Lincoln Riley. Riley spoke glowingly about Henson at Big Ten Media Days, but nearly a decade has passed since Henson called plays on Saturdays.

We know Purdue wants to establish the run. How will it look to do so? By bringing in Browne, it may provide an idea. What packages will Purdue use? Will it go under center at all? Many questions remain about what the offense will look like.

13. WHO BREAKS THROUGH ON THE D-LINE?

Purdue does return four to this position group: Jamarius Dinkins, Demeco Kennedy, Drake Carlson and Jamarrion Harkless. Dinkins, Kennedy and Harkless form a solid trio, with Harkless primed to emerge as an interior force. Transfers will play a key role in the story of the interior, too.

Redshirt freshman TJ Lindsey projects as an instant-impact transfer from Auburn. Early buzz out of the Kozuch Football Performance Complex indicates that the NFL will come calling. If he’s a starter, who will join him? Josh Burney (Fort Valley State), Ian Jeffries (Arkansas State), Marcus Moore (Bowling Green) and Elijah St. John (Long Island University) could each factor into the mix.

14. DEN OF DEFENSIVE ENDS

Historically, strong defensive end play coincides with Purdue’s success on the gridiron. As defensive coordinator Mike Scherer tries to turn around a putrid defense from a season ago, improving the pass rush is a must.

Returners CJ Madden and Trey Smith both project to play a role. Each came ahead of last season from Georgia and Illinois, respectively, but neither saw much action. An injury at Oregon State cost Madden his season, while the redshirt freshman Smith still needed some adjusting to college ball. The last staff felt good about the future for both.

Transfers will provide competition. Breeon Ishmail from Michigan turned heads in spring practice, while Akron’s CJ Nunnally should add a veteran depth piece. Can North Texas transfer Breylon Charles prove it at the Power Conference level? Long story short, Purdue will hope that whomever breaks out can make life uncomfortable for opposing passers.

“We like to play offense on defense,” said Scherer “We’re gonna come after you. So, we’re gonna come after you, but in ways that the guys playing behind, they can play fast and they can run to the football and everybody’s eyes are on the football. There are layers to it. We’ll have layers to our defense, but we will be attacking up front and creating layers on the backside.”

15. BIG SPLASH FROM THE FCS

The spring portal quickly becomes a competitive marketplace. Teams across the country look to put the finishing touches on their roster, but fewer players become available than the hectic December portal. Purdue landed a big fish in Tennessee State transfer Sanders Ellis.

As a true freshman, Ellis racked up 86 tackles, including 15.5 for loss, and earned OVC Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. He hit the portal looking to prove himself at the highest level and drew no shortage of suitors. During his recruitment, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Tennessee, Auburn, and Virginia Tech all became major suitors for Ellis. Purdue won out, though, and expect Ellis to play a major role from day one on campus.

16. FOURTH SCHOOL FOR THE FIVE-STAR

Tony Grimes’ path hasn’t been linear. He enrolled a year early at North Carolina as a five-star recruit, where he instantly helped make an impact. Grimes started 28 games over three seasons in Chapel Hill before bolting for Texas A&M. An injury prevented him from taking the field as an Aggie, leading him to join Odom in Las Vegas for the 2024 season. After starting all 13 games in Sin City, he once more entered the portal to follow Odom to West Lafayette.

“He saw something in me a lot of coaches didn’t see in me,” Grimes said of his coach. “He still believed I can be this top player in the country one day. He brought me in, and our journeys keep going.”

Few players on the roster possess more natural ability than Grimes. His talent combined with experience point towards a strong final college campaign as he lines up as Purdue’s top corner.

17. YOUNG RETURNEES READY TO SPLASH IN SECONDARY

In the grand scheme of things, few players remain from last season’s roster. Smiley Bradford and Hudauri Hines spent last season as true freshmen in Purdue’s secondary. While Bradford saw more action as the season went along, Hines largely watched from the sidelines. Now, in year two, both appear primed for major roles. If they can perform at a high level at a young age, they can turn into major reasons for optimism for Purdue’s future.

18. THE CREW

Nearing his fifth wedding anniversary, Crew Wakley’s path to Purdue looks a little different than most. He’s 25 years old, he’s played both offense and defense and he took time away from football in the middle of his collegiate career.

After bouncing back and forth between offense and defense at Utah State, he left the sport, moving to California to sell solar panels. Then, he returned to the sport at BYU, where he made over 100 tackles in the past two seasons.

He took a visit to Purdue in January, which blew his expectations out of the water. Now, he’s eager to spend his final season of college ball with the Boilermakers and lead a defense hoping for a resurgence in 2025.

“The cool thing for me is everything they told me in recruiting has stayed true, which is the hard part, right?” Wakley said. “You go out and you’re told all these things from all these different people. It’s like, what’s true and what’s fluff and trying to ooh and aah you. It’s cool because I put my trust in them and ever since I’ve been here, they’ve been true to their word.”

19. PORATH SEEKS CONSISTENCY

Spencer Porath arrived with much fanfare. On3 ranked him the No. 8 kicker in his recruiting class, and he earned Indiana Mr. Football honors at his position. Walters stated he felt that Porath was the best kicker in the country.

Porath made seven of his 11 field goal attempts as a freshman, but the staff lacked confidence in him towards the end of the season. A missed chip shot at Ohio State was his last attempt of the year, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Purdue fans. Now, the Brownsburg product will look to establish more consistency and lock down the kicking spot in fall camp.

“Spencer, I mean, I know he had some struggles last year, but he’s really kicked the ball well,” said special teams coach James Shibest in the spring. “We’ve worked with a little couple fundamental things, but I think the big deal with him is just making sure we’re good and confident. He’s got talent and he can get the job done. I can see that confidence kind of showing out now.”

20. WHO WILL PUNT?

Keelan Crimmins departed for the other side of the Cannon Trophy rivalry and will don Illinois’ orange and blue this fall. One of the few bright spots of the 2024 team, Crimmins earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

Jack McCallister enters camp as the presumptive favorite. He transferred to Nebraska from Washington in December with one year of eligibility, but moved on to Purdue because Nebraska switched to a new special team coordinator who wants a punter who can execute rugby style. That’s not his game.

Last season at Washington, McCallister punted 36 times, averaging 44.0 yards and having 12 of his 36 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Eight of his 36 punts went 50 yards or more. 

Arkansas transfer Sam Dubwig and UConn transfer Seth Turner will battle him. Regardless of who earns the job, Purdue will look for consistency in a spot that hadn’t been a strength for this program in recent years prior to last season.

21. SPICE UP SPECIAL TEAMS

For a team looking to spark some upsets, points on special teams can go a long way. Unfortunately for Purdue, special teams points have been few and far between in recent memory. Tyrone Tracy’s kickoff return touchdown in the 2023 season opener stands as the lone kickoff return touchdown since 2013, and you’d have to go back to 2009 to find Purdue’s last punt return touchdown.

Purdue projects as an underdog in 10 of its 12 contests. Finding ways to pull upsets will require some unconventional methods of scoring.

22. CAN PURDUE STAY HEALTHY?

In 2022, Garrett Miller suffered a season-ending injury on one of the first days of practice. Last season, Nyland Green and CJ Smith each suffered setbacks. Those delayed their starts to the season and ultimately contributed to underwhelming campaigns in West Lafayette.

Injuries are part of the sport, but the teams that avoid major injury trouble often turn into the ones exceeding expectations. For Purdue to climb up the Big Ten standings, staying healthy will prove paramount.

23. THE SCHEDULE ISN’T KIND

Welcome to the new-look Big Ten. Purdue learned this the hard way in 2024, squaring off with five College Football Playoff squads, four of them in the conference. Though some seasons will provide easier schedules than others, most years will present quite the challenge.

Playing Notre Dame in the non-conference doesn’t make matters easier, but the league slate will make life difficult on the Boilermakers. Oddsmakers set Purdue’s over/under win total at just 3.5 wins, with the “under” as the heavily-juiced outcome. Despite the low expectations against a grueling slate, Odom won’t back down from the competition.

24. YEAR ONE

It’s Odom’s debut year. All eyes will focus on the Boilermaker boss as he looks to turn around this program. He believes in what he’s done assembling this roster, citing the brand new feel to the locker room.

“This team is completely different than anybody on the outside knows,” said Odom. “The way that returners have come back and worked, the additions that we’ve made to our team, the opportunity is there for us to create the momentum early on.”

With 82 players who will suit up for Purdue for the first time in the season opener, he’s looking to mesh lots of new parts together. How quickly and how efficiently he can do so may determine Purdue’s fate in 2025.

25. A STRONG START

No matter what happens in fall camp, Purdue must build towards a strong start to the season. Purdue opens with Ball State before welcoming FCS Southern Illinois. A 2-0 start is a must. From there, Purdue projects as an underdog in its remaining 10 games. But, things can change quickly during a college football season. If Purdue can build momentum and confidence during a pair of season-opening wins, the tides can turn quickly.