Purdue running back Fame Ijeboi says he came to West Lafayette with a bigger picture in mind.
“I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” Ijeboi noted on why he chose Purdue. “I wanted to be a part of the change at Purdue.
I really feel like we can do something special and be the group that can put the program back to where it should be. That's my goal and reasons for coming here because I want to be a part of that.”
After Purdue’s 11th practice of fall camp on Wednesday night, Ijeboi said the transition to campus has gone smoothly. He pointed to his teammates as a big reason why, saying they’ve made it easy to settle in and spend time together.
He also said Barry Odom’s message during the recruiting process stood out to him. Ijeboi liked hearing Odom’s vision for what the team wants to change and where it needs to improve.
For now, the focus inside the program is simple: competition. Ijeboi said everybody is pushing everybody else right now, and that’s the main emphasis.
On the field, he describes himself in straightforward terms. “That's the mindset I have when I run is to be explosive.”
He added that Purdue’s offensive line has impressed him so far, calling their work amazing and saying they keep getting better every day. He said he’s looking forward to playing behind them.
Ijeboi also said his time on the field at Minnesota last season helped him adjust to the pace of college football. He said he picked up the feel and speed of the game, got more comfortable, and was able to slow things down a bit.
When asked about teammates, he singled out Travis Terrell Jr. for his speed. Ijeboi said what stands out most is Terrell’s explosiveness, quickness, and burst.
He also shared that his first name is actually Ohifame, pronounced, Oh-eh-fem-eh, and said the meaning is “God is worthy of his praise.”
Another familiar face has helped make Purdue feel even more comfortable. Ijeboi said it’s great having Kevin Kane at Purdue too, since Kane was with him at Minnesota last season.
Looking back at last year’s matchup with the Gophers, Ijeboi remembered Purdue as tough and hungry.
Ijeboi rushed for 441 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and scored two touchdowns while adding 12 catches for 51 yards for the Gophers in 2025.
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