Purdue’s quarterback room looks and feels different this fall, and after six practices of camp, the Boilermakers are talking like a group that finally has some stability.
On Thursday, quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw, starter Ryan Browne and backups Evans Chuba and Bennett Meredith all met with reporters after Purdue returned to the field following a day off. The conversation centered on the same thing from multiple angles: a room that is more settled, more familiar and, by Purdue’s own account, more confident than it was a year ago.
That confidence starts with the people around the quarterbacks. Hinshaw said head coach Barry Odom, offensive coordinator Josh Henson and others have invested heavily in the position group.
"The people who have poured into all of our quarterbacks: Coach Odom, first of all, our head football coach," Hinshaw said. "He met with them throughout January and February and had different NFL quarterbacks have Zoom meetings with them.
Our head coach has poured into our quarterbacks all the way to this moment. It's been huge."
Hinshaw also credited Henson for helping the quarterbacks handle the mental side of the job, which has helped the room settle in through the first six practices of fall camp.
For Browne, the biggest priority has been simple: take care of the ball. Purdue’s 2025 season ended with a Big Ten-worst 21 turnovers, including 13 interceptions, and Browne was charged with 10 of those picks. He said that issue has been a major offseason focus.
"The No. 1 thing is not turning the ball over. I took a big step in spring ball with that and have been really good about that so far in camp," Browne said.
"And then just completing the ball. Finding completions, throwing checkdowns.
High completion percentage, low turnovers."
Through six practices, Browne has backed that up with cleaner play. Hinshaw said the quarterback has only one interception so far and, by his count, around 14 touchdowns.
"He has one interception after six practices, and he's got, I think, 14 touchdowns at this point," Hinshaw said. "We have to keep that trend going."
The No. 2 job is still open, but there’s at least some shape to the competition. Earlier this week, Odom said he "didn't know" who would back up Browne and added, "We have a lot of work to do."
Hinshaw identified Chuba and Meredith as the main contenders for the spot behind Browne when Purdue opens Sept. 4 against Indiana State. He pointed to Meredith’s experience and Chuba’s upside.
"We have a battle at two and three right now, and that's Evans Chuba and Bennett Meredith. Bennett Meredith has shown some great things.
You see the senior in him, the older mentality, the leadership. He's been a leader for us," Hinshaw said.
"Evans Chuba, who's younger, has a very high ceiling at quarterback. He has done what we've asked him to do from last year to this year to get himself prepared.
Now, there has to be a sense of urgency. He has to go play faster in those situations, game-like scenarios as he's going through practice."
The bigger-picture advantage for Purdue is familiarity. Last season, the quarterback room had to absorb the offense on the fly.
Browne was at North Carolina during spring practice and had to jump in quickly. This year is different, with four of the five quarterbacks having spent at least a full season in West Lafayette.
Browne said that extra time has made a clear difference.
"I think the biggest thing is being in this scheme for a year," Browne said. "I know everything like the back of my hand. I've had since last season and January until now to really master the offense and the details of it."
Chuba made a similar point, even though he has yet to appear in a live game for Purdue.
"Understanding that certain plays are for certain reasons," Chuba said, "not everything is a touchdown."
The group’s continuity has also created a tighter bond. Purdue added three-star California quarterback Corin Berry to the mix, but the room still has a rare level of continuity for today’s college game. Chuba said that has helped the quarterbacks push each other while building chemistry over time.
"It's been amazing. Through winter training, spring ball, summer training and now fall camp, it's been great," he said.
"I've been with a lot of them for two years, so just being there, pushing each other, learning from each other's mistakes, pushing each other to be better. The dynamic between us is great."
Meredith, who is in his senior season, said the relationship inside the room has become especially strong.
"We are an extremely close-knit room. We're all extremely good friends; we're close on and off the field, all pushing for each other to be as good as they can be," Meredith said.
"We all have each other's back at the end of the day. It's awesome."
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