Old National Presents: The 3-2-1 of Purdue football

Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s time for the 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football.

Three things learned

1 Spring schedule set

Barry Odom will take a big step in developing his first Purdue team when spring ball commences on March 4, the first of 15 practices. The spring game will be on April 12.

Having a “game” is nice, but Odom and Co., will get their REAL work done in what routinely are closed scrimmages leading up to the spring game.

The to-do list this spring? Where to begin for a staff that will be folding in 29 transfers and a raft of freshman early arrivals? All eyes will gravitate to the QB spot, where a starter must be found. Every spot but running back drips with interest on offense. The defense is in a similar situation, with questions and unknowns looming from front to back.

Will spring practice be open to the media? To the public? No word yet. My guess: This staff is gonna keep things buttoned up. We shall see.

2 – Purdue picked last in Big Ten

It’s early … WAY early. Still, it’s always interesting to get others’ assessments of Purdue.

The latest to chime in: Athlon, which published an early 2025 Big Ten order of finish this week. Where was Purdue picked? Last.

Get used to it. Purdue, no doubt, figures to be a consensus last-place pick in all 2025 Big Ten forecasts. It doesn’t really matter. Just some fun fodder that I’m sure Odom will twist into motivation.

No use in rehashing the gory 2024 season in West Lafayette. Odom knows what he’s up against. No doubt, Purdue probably had to sweeten his deal to six years and $36 million to lure him from UNLV to clean up the biggest mess in Boilermaker history.

The program never has been lower coming off a 1-11 season that felt like an 0-22 season. The 2024 campaign was an absolute abomination on every level.

Odom will earn his money in 2025 if he’s able to scratch out three or four wins with a roster siphoned of talent. And the schedule? It’s brutal. For starters, there’s … (deep breath) … Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and USC.

So, there is that.

3 – RB OV last weekend

Purdue played host to 2025 RB Cornelius Warren for an official visit last weekend.

The 5-10, 175-pound Warren, who played at North Crowley High in Fort Worth, Texas, is a speedy player who is versatile. Purdue already has commitments from two 2025 RBs: Jaron Thomas and  Ziaire Stevens. Warren was considered to be one of UNLV’s top 2025 signees until he de-committed last month after Odom left the Rebels for the Boilermakers.

Warren would be the seventh former UNLV signee Odom flipped; DE Mason Alnutt, S Antonio “Juju” Parker, S Vi’Naz Cobb, TE Jon Grimmett, LB Parker Meese and QB Garyt Odom. All six are enrolled and will go through spring drills.

Overall, Purdue has 11 2025 signees to go along with its 29 portal arrivals.

Signing Day is February 5.

Two questions

1 – Next big recruiting event?

It will take place on Saturday, January 25, when Purdue welcomes a raft of 2026 recruits for its first Junior Day. The event will be limited to 75 attendees.

Odom has said he wants high school recruiting to be the baseline of his program. This will be his first chance to get in front of some the program’s top targets in the Class of 2026.

“I’m excited about building the roster,” said Odom upon taking over the team in December. “I’m excited about what we’ve got coming back. I would like to retain all of them. But understand I’ve got to be very, very aggressive in building the roster for next year.

“Then, foundationally, you look at being able to evaluate, attract high school kids, develop them in your program the way you can to make sure year one, year two, year three we have a rise in what we do developmentally in the program.”

2 – Another Boilermaker on staff?

Former Purdue wideout Bilal Marshall is an offensive analyst for Odom. Marshall was on staff at West Virginia as receivers coach the last two years, working at VMI before that.

Marshall joins RB coach Lamar Conard as former Boilermakers on staff for Odom. I think it’s always good to have a few assistants who were raised as Purdue players, have an intimate knowledge of the school beyond the football program.

Marshall was a receiver for Purdue from 2012-16. As a senior, he was the team’s second-leading receiver with 40 catches for 477 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall made 47 catches as a Boilermaker for 549 yards and three TDs.

One bold statement: Purdue shouldn’t have been that bad in 2024

When you look at the schools Purdue players transferred to, it makes you shake your head. How did this team win just one game? And that one triumph was vs. a FCS foe. There was ample talent on last season’s roster.

Purdue players transferred to six playoff teams: Oregon, Ohio State, Clemson, Arizona State, Texas, SMU. Some of the other notable landing spots: USC, Louisville, Northwestern, North Carolina, Texas Tech, Illinois, Kansas State, Virginia, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, N.C. State and Nebraska.

Unreal.

MORE: Who jumped in the portal for Purdue? | Who is coming from the portal? | Purdue 2025 newcomer roster |  GoldandBlack.com content hub: Welcome to the Barry Odom era