Purdue’s first scrimmage of fall camp should offer a much clearer picture of where Barry Odom’s team stands, even if it’s still early in the process. The Boilermakers have already gone through seven practices, and the weekend work in West Lafayette gives the staff its first real chance to see the roster in something closer to game conditions before the opener against Indiana State on Sept. 4.
There are still plenty of unresolved spots, and Purdue would love to get at least a few answers by the time the scrimmage wraps up. One of the biggest revolves around the passing game.
The Boilermakers have spent the past two seasons without a true go-to receiver, and while there are multiple capable options, nobody has clearly separated from the pack yet. De'Nylon Morrissette, Xavier Townsend, Bisi Owens and Asaad Waseem are among the top names in that group entering the weekend.
Another area worth watching is the defensive end room, where Purdue feels good about its depth. CJ Madden, Trey Smith and Breeon Ishmail are back, and the Boilermakers also brought in Elo Modozie, Keyshawn Burgos and Jeremy Lewis through the transfer portal.
Position coach Jake Trump has said he wants to rotate as many players as he can, provided they keep producing. The real question is how many of them can consistently pressure the quarterback and disrupt plays in the backfield.
Up front, Purdue is still sorting through the offensive line. Early in camp, offensive coordinator Josh Henson said three spots were still open, with center Boaz Stanley and left tackle Joey Tanona seemingly locked in.
Since then, the staff has been looking for someone else to step forward and create separation. The bigger issue may be whether the unit can settle on a five-man combination that works well together, even with the possibility of plenty of rotation.
Ball security is another major concern. Purdue finished last season with 21 turnovers, tied for most in the Big Ten in 2025, and too many of those mistakes came at the worst possible times.
If the Boilermakers want to stay in more Big Ten games this year, that has to change. Quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw said this week that starter Ryan Browne has been much better with his decision-making and that turnovers have not been an issue so far in fall camp.
The secondary is also under the microscope after Purdue’s pass defense ranked last in the Big Ten and among the worst in the country last season. Hudauri Hines and Smiley Bradford are back, but the Boilermakers also added a significant group of newcomers in Jaden Mangham, Mister Clark, Justin Denson Jr., John Slaughter and Don Saunders. The staff has praised the versatility in that group, but the real test is whether those defensive backs can stay in front of receivers and make plays on the ball.
In Other News...
Purdue August Roundup Brings Early Momentum And One Tough Camp Blow
Purdues August has already brought a little bit of everything, starting with an encouraging volleyball tune-up and stretching across campus into football, basketball and even the NFL preseason. The volleyball team edged Ball State in a five-set exhibition, with freshman Addy Tindall drawing attention, while football moved through fall camp with a scrimmage and a visit from former quarterback Drew Brees. Away from West Lafayette, incoming womens basketball guard Maya Zilbershlag kept adding to the summers buzz with a standout run at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket for Israel, and former Boilermakers Mani Powell and EJ Horton got their first NFL preseason action.
The harder news came on the football side, where camp brought word that tight end Kylan Fox and defensive back Raderrion Daniels are dealing with injuries serious enough to cloud their availability for the season. For a team trying to build momentum before the opener, losing depth in two different spots is a real setback, even with the usual late-summer optimism around the roster. Purdue still has time to sort through the damage and settle on its next answers, but August can turn quickly from a showcase month into a test of how much a team can absorb. [Read more 🡒]