Barry Odom has plenty to sort through as he heads into Year 2 at Purdue, but the quietest concern might also be one of the most important: special teams.
The Boilermakers are trying to rebound from a 2-10 season in 2025, and the attention naturally falls on the offense and defense. Still, Purdue enters 2026 with major uncertainty at both kicker and punter after losing its starting punter and place kicker from last season.
That matters. Especially for a team trying to push toward bowl eligibility.
At kicker, Purdue has a blank slate. Spencer Porath’s unexpected transfer to Notre Dame opened up a significant hole, and the Boilermakers now have three kickers on the roster who have not attempted a field goal at the college level.
Seth Turner handled kickoff duties last season and appeared in all 12 games, but he also arrived after two years at UConn without game action there. Purdue may ask him to handle more than kickoffs this fall, though that remains to be seen.
The other two options are even less proven. Jack Weeter is a junior who has yet to appear in a game, while Jacobo Echeverria Lozano arrives as a freshman with plenty of buzz after being ranked the No. 10 kicker in the country by Kohl's Kicking Camps in the 2026 recruiting class.
Porath gave Purdue stability a year ago, going 15-for-17 on field goals and perfect on all 24 extra points. The Boilermakers would obviously prefer to create more touchdowns this season, but somebody still has to handle the pressure kicks when drives stall.
Punting is a little more settled, at least on paper. With Jack McCallister out of eligibility, Purdue went to the transfer portal and brought in Dylan Drennan from Buffalo. He’ll compete with Sam Dubwig, who was on the roster last year but did not play.
Drennan brings real production with him. Last season at Buffalo, he averaged 44.8 yards per punt, placed 25 punts inside the 20 and sent 16 kicks more than 50 yards. That makes him the clear favorite to win the job.
Dubwig is still part of the picture, though. He was a top-10 punter in the country as a member of the 2024 recruiting class, spent one season at Arkansas, and then entered the portal before landing at Purdue.
McCallister was a weapon for the Boilermakers, and replacing that kind of production is no small task.
That’s the bigger theme for Purdue overall. The margin for error is razor thin, and last season three of the Boilermakers’ losses came by a touchdown or less.
Special teams weren’t the problem then, because Purdue had experienced answers at both kicker and punter. This year, that safety net is gone.
If Odom’s team is going to make a real jump, it has to clean up all three phases. With a new kicker and a new punter in the mix, that’s easier said than done.
And in a season where every possession matters, the Boilermakers can’t afford to leave points on the field or give away field position. Those small losses can decide whether 2026 feels like progress or disappointment.
In Other News...
Purdue Still Has One Huge Offensive Line Question Heading Into Camp
Purdues offensive tackle picture has been reshaped by the portal, with Nuku Mafi, Jatavious Shivers and Makai Saina all brought in to help stabilize a spot that needed bodies and competition. The Boilermakers also have Jude McCoskey back in the mix after the NCAAs eligibility change gave him an extra year, adding another layer to a room that is still sorting itself out as fall camp approaches.
The biggest question remains on the right side, where the job is open and the battle has not produced a clear answer yet. Mafi has emerged as the name to watch, with Shivers pushing him and Saina providing another option behind them, leaving Purdue with real choices but no settled starter as camp begins. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Fans Are Still Waiting On A Crucial Enzo Shahrvin Update
Enzo Shahrvin has already made his way to West Lafayette and is getting work in with Purdue in practice, giving the Boilermakers a chance to see how the 6-foot-7 forward from France fits into the mix. For a team that has plenty of talent up front but still lacks a true post presence, his size and physical style have obvious appeal, especially as Purdue continues sorting out what its frontcourt will look like once games count.
The only catch is that his status remains tied up with the NCAA, which is still reviewing eligibility rules for athletes with professional experience. Shahrvin spent two years with Paris Basketball in EuroLeague action, and the uncertainty around how that background is treated means Purdue is still waiting on a ruling that could define how much value he can provide this season, and for how long. [Read more 🡒]