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 – Cha-ching!

For the first time ever, Purdue has two $1 million assistant coaches.

Josh Henson is the highest paid assistant coach ever at Purdue, according to his contract that GoldandBlack.com obtained via a records request. The Purdue offensive coordinator/tight ends coach has a three-year contract that will pay him $1.1 in 2025; $1.2 million in 2026 and $1.3 million in 2027. Henson was hired by Barry Odom from USC.

DC Mike Scherer has a three-year deal that will pay him $1 million in 2025, $1.1 million in 2026 and $1.2 million in 2027. The former Missouri LB followed Odom from UNLV.

As part of his settlement after being let go after four games by Purdue in 2024, OC Graham Harrell will be paid $1 million in 2025, the previous highest sum ever paid to a Boilermaker assistant.

2 – Former assistants finding homes

The latest was special teams coach Chris Petrilli, who landed the same gig at Washington where Ryan Walters is DC.

Others who have landed on their feet: DC/LB Kevin Kane (Minnesota); OC/QB Graham Harrell (Abiliene Christian); DE Joe Dineen (Kansas); WR Cory Patterson (Oklahoma State); CB Sam Carter (Louisiana Tech).

The only former Walters’ assistants still looking: OL Marcus Johnson, S Grant O’Brien, DL Brick Haley and TE Justin Sinz. Some feel Haley may retire.

3 – Hudson Card hopeful

The former Boilermaker signal-caller is working out in San Diego with former NFL QB Jordan Palmer, the younger brother of Carson.

“I’m working a lot on weight transfer and just taking a lot of unnecessary movements out in my drop and just really feeling connected to the ground, which will help with power and velocity and just trying to get wasted movements out of there,” said Card. “That way, I can be as efficient as possible.”

If Card is picked in the NFL draft, it probably will be on Day Three. But one scout told me he has a “free agent” grade on Card.

Card will be at Purdue’s Pro Day on March 5.

• PURDUE PRO DAY SET | ROSTER DISTRIBUTON

Two questions

1 – New playoff format coming?

Within the SEC and Big Ten, momentum is building to expand the playoff to 14 or 16 teams beginning in 2026, assign multiple automatic qualifiers per league — as many as four each for themselves — and finalize a scheduling arrangement together that may NET millions in additional revenue from TV partners, according to a report by Yahoo Sports. The current incarnation of the playoff is 12 teams, but this is the last season of that format.

Anything that gets more teams in the playoff is good for Purdue. Hey, if Indiana got in the CFP, why can’t Purdue?

2 – Who will be the QB?

Which of the transfer quarterbacks will it be? Malachi Singleton, EJ Colson or Evans Chubba? Experience is lacking for this unit, with the trio combining for just one start.

“I’m not going to say right now,” said QB coach Darin Hinshaw. “I’m just worried about installing the offense. If a starter just absolutely plays better than everybody, Coach Odom will make that decision if we want to announce a starter. So we’ll worry about that when we get there.”

One bold statement: Purdue will play multiple QBs in 2025

Will one signal-caller pull away with the gig? We could see a few get an opportunity to give the staff a greater sample size before riding with one quarterback. It looks like it will be an even race, and game production may be the deciding factor.

The first two games are at home vs. Ball State and Southern Illinois, an opportune time for auditions before USC rolls into West Lafayette.

The last time the program started the same quarterback in every game was 2016, when David Blough made all the starts.

MORE: Offensive depth chart | Defensive depth chart | Special teams depth chart | 2025 roster distribution | Purdue official roster | Spring preview: QBs | 5 questions with OC Josh Henson | 5 questions with DC Mike Scherer