Purdue waited until just a few days before kickoff to put its leadership group on the record, naming six team captains for the 2026 season.
The Boilermakers split the group evenly with three captains on offense and three on defense as they prepare for Friday’s opener against Indiana State at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue is trying to turn the page after a 2-10 season a year ago, and the captaincy list shows a roster built around familiar faces and experienced transfers.
The offensive side starts with quarterback Browne, Purdue’s returning starter. He threw for 2,153 yards and nine touchdowns last season and added four rushing scores, giving the junior a full year of game action to build on heading into 2026. The staff is counting on him to be a steadier passer this fall.
Joining him on offense is McCoskey, who transferred in from Indiana State and is now in his second season with Purdue. The senior played in 11 of the team’s 12 games last year and brings size and experience to the offensive line as he looks for a larger role in the trenches.
The third offensive captain is Morrissette, who missed the entire 2025 season because of injury. This will be his third year in West Lafayette after arriving following the 2023 campaign. In 2024, he caught 11 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, Correa headlines the group after serving as a central figure for Purdue last season. In 12 games in 2025, he finished with 96 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Now in his second season with the Boilermakers, he enters the fall as the clear leader of that unit and a player with All-Big Ten potential at linebacker.
Hines is the only captain who has spent his entire college career at Purdue. A member of the 2024 recruiting class, he is entering his third season and comes off a 2025 campaign in which he played in 12 games, started 11 and recorded 33 tackles, nine passes defended and an interception.
The final captain is Neal, the only one in the group who did not play for Purdue last season. He arrives with plenty of experience after three years at Wisconsin and a season at Illinois, where he started eight games, appeared in all 12, and totaled 15 tackles.
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The same is true on the other side of the ball, where Purdue needs more consistent pressure after struggling to disrupt opposing quarterbacks a year ago. The matchup with an FCS opponent should help reveal whether the front can turn a deeper rotation into real production, with several players expected to play meaningful roles in that effort. For a team with bigger tests waiting soon after, this one is less about the final score and more about whether the Boilermakers can leave with a few answers. [Read more 🡒]