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Report: Purdue's Ryan Walters 'trending to return for 2025'

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•11/26/24•

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(Krockover Photography)

Ryan Walters looks poised to return for a third season in 2025, according to an On3 report confirmed by GoldandBlack.com.

The On3 report states: “Speaking with multiple sources on Sunday, Walters is trending to return for the 2025 season.”

Walters has become embattled in 2024 as Purdue is skidding toward a 1-11 finish (0-9 Big Ten). The Boilermakers (1-10; 0-8) are in the midst of a 10-game losing streak as they head to Indiana (10-1; 7-1) as a 25.5-point underdog for the season finale at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

Questions about Walters’ future have mounted with each successive loss. Would Purdue AD Mike Bobinski retain Walters? Or, would Bobinski move on and pay a buyout in excess of $9 million? There have been no Power Four head coaching changes yet.

It looks like Bobinski is leaning toward opting to retain Walters, though no announcement is imminent. Perhaps the athletic department will make an announcement soon after Saturday’s game in Bloomington, as the early signing day is December 4 and the transfer portal opens December 9.

If Walters does return, it’s thought he would have a radically altered staff headed by two new coordinators. GoldandBlack.com has confirmed Purdue has been vetting potential offensive coordinators, with the list being winnowed down to three-four targets.

One of the targets is believed to be former Purdue assistant JaMarcus Shephard. The 41-year-old native of Fort Wayne, Ind., worked at Purdue from 2017-21 under Jeff Brohm as passing game coordinator/co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach. Shephard helped recruit and develop wideouts like Rondale Moore and David Bell.

Shephard left to work for Kalen DeBoer at Washington from 2022-23 as assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/receivers coach, with the Huskies playing for the national championship last season. Shephard followed DeBoer to Alabama in 2024 as co-OC/assistant head coach/wideout coach.

Two potential rubs: Shephard never has called an offense on his own. And would he want to leave Alabama? According to reports, Shephard has a two-year deal that pays him $1.1 million annually.

Another OC target Purdue is thought to have talked to is Brian Brohm. The youngest Brohm brother was on Jeff Brohm’s Purdue staff from 2017-22 as quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator, though Jeff called plays. Brian Brohm, 39, followed Jeff Brohm to Louisville in 2023 in the same role. Brian Brohm was Purdue’s interim head coach for the 63-7 Citrus Bowl loss to LSU. Published reports say Brohm makes $700,000 annually at Louisville.

It’s also thought Purdue has talked to Mike Yurcich, who has been offensive coordinator at Penn State (2021-23) most recently. He also has been OC at Oklahoma State (2013-18) and Texas (2020). Yurcich, 49, was QB coach at Ohio State in 2019. He is not employed at the time.

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