SOTC Update: Purdue Boilermakers

Barry Odom takes over in West Lafayette as the Boilers look to put that previous regime very much behind them. This is the State of the Chart update for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Mar 03, 2025

State of the Chart™ Recap Edition

Live All-In Ranking: 103rd
Offense: 96th
Defense: 106th
2024 Results: 1-11 (0-9 in Big Ten)

All of the information that follows is just the beginning and everything will be updated in our first edition of the State of the Chart™ digital magazine. Slated for a launch in July of 2025, learn more about this and shoot us your email to be kept up-to-speed on launch dates and receive sneak previews…

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|||||| STATE OF THE CHART™ SUMMARY

This was doomed from the moment the schedule was released. Not just that it was one of the toughest in the country, one that featured the eventual two participants in the National Championship game. It was also that they were not equipped from a talent standpoint to withstand this gauntlet. They struggled on both sides of the ball, with the most apparent weaknesses being exploited on the defensive side of the ball, which happened to be head coach Ryan Walter’s focus area, having been a successful defensive coordinator at Illinois before getting this job. It wasn’t just the talent level that held them back, they were out-coached and out-schemed in every game outside of the 41-0 win in week one against FCS Indiana State. This was just not a good situation, and it is one to forget. The administration went the route of the first-time, unproven, talented head coach with Walters the last time. They would not make that mistake again. They went with a proven commodity that has done it at multiple stops and levels. Barry Odom is the new head coach here after reviving the UNLV program after a successful run as defensive coordinator at Arkansas and Missouri as head coach. His ousting from Mizzou was questioned at the time; they just wanted to get a new, fresh face in there. It’s worked out for both parties. Now, it’s rebuild time, and if Boilermaker fans expect an Indiana-like quick turnaround to national prominence, they will be sorely let down. Odom needs some time to get this thing flipped, and it starts now.

|||||| HEAD COACH AND COACHING STAFF

The Ryan Walters era was one to forget. The administration learns from it and goes the veteran, proven coach route by bringing in former UNLV and Mizzou head coach Barry Odom. This is a solid hire, but to think that he will perform a magical turnaround in just one year is likely unrealistic. He will build the program with his coaches, his players, his way. By 2026, we should see some progress.

Coaching Staff Notes/Changes:

Here is how Odom built his first staff at Purdue (3):

He brought with him a good number of his key staffers from UNLV, including:
- Mike Scherer (Defensive Coordinator) was with Odom as DC/linebackers coach the past two years at UNLV and makes the move to West Lafayette with Odom.
- Vance Vice (Offensive Line) comes in from UNLV as well where he held the same position with the Rebels.
- James Shibest (Special Teams Coordinator) comes in from Vegas after a two-year stint with Odom at UNLV. He previously served as special teams/tight ends coach at Virginia Tech for six seasons (2016-21).
Hired outside promising coaches, including (5):
- Josh Henson (Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends) spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator/tight ends coach at USC with Lincoln Riley. He wanted an opportunity to have more control over the offense and gets his shot here with Purdue. It will not be an easy task.
- Darin Hinshaw (Quarterbacks) was serving as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UCF the past two seasons and learning from one of the best offensive minds in the game in Gus Mahzahn.
- Both Kelvin Green (Defensive Line) and Jake Trump (Defensive Ends) have been hired and given on-field coaching roles after time spent at Arkansas, where Odom was defensive coordinator before taking the UNLV job. Both were elevated from analyst roles with the Razorbacks.
- Charles Clark (Defensive Backs) comes to Purdue from Memphis where he was the associate head coach and safeties coach the past five seasons.
Retaining talent from the previous Purdue staff (1):
- Lamar Conard (Running Backs) was retained by Odom to stick around and continue as running backs coach. Conard was hired by Walters back in 2023 when he was plucked from Miami (OH), where he served in the same role there in 2018-22.

Note: This is a “dynamic” article; meaning we will update any information that comes in this “off-season” and post a note when impactful moves are made or news breaks.

|||||| 2024 SCHEDULE / RESULTS ANALYSIS

This was just brutal. They played a Big Ten schedule that featured Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana. Throw in a non-conference game against eventual National runners up Notre Dame and no easy trip up to Corvalis to play Oregon State. The only cake walk was their only win of the season against FCS Indiana State in week one. They went on to lose 11 straight. Their closest call was a 50-49 (!) loss to Walters’ previous employer, Illinois, in week seven. Their next closest call was a seven-point loss to Michigan State in week 13, which post-game win expectancy numbers say they had a 38% chance to win. The Walters era ended with a blowout loss to Indiana, 66-0.

||||||| POSITION GROUP CHECK-INS

OFFENSE: The offense managed just 15.8 points per game (130th in FBS) and ran the a really slow pace to try to keep the clock ticking and avoid further embarrassment. Hudson Card came in from Texas and while his underlying player-level data suggests he is a good player, there was just little he could do to prevent this from going off the rails. Redshirt freshman Ryan Browne was forced into action after injury (added to insult) to Card and performed rather admirably under the circumstances as well. What’s interesting to see is that the offensive line talent was not horrendous and while they struggled as a unit, they had some good players. This is where we can mention the just brutal, unrelenting opponents they faced all season long. The page will be turned on this offense and Odom is bringing in assistants from really smart offensive minds to try to get this thing turned around quickly. Offensive coordinator Josh Henson has spent time around Lincoln Riley and quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw comes in from UCF after sponging up some of that Gus Malzahn influence. The hope is that they can scheme this up to outperform their talent level. The slate is (mostly) wiped clean and we have a fresh, likely growing pain-filled, start here in West Lafayette.

||| QB

Hudson Card and Ryan Browne didn’t have a lot to work with and consistently faced front sevens which made life very difficult for them. Card graduates and Brown transfers to UNC. Odom targets his former Arkansas player Malachi Singleton to come in and take the first crack at this role. He was buried behind some really good ones in Fayetteville. EJ Colson also comes in from UCF with incoming quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw and is a future project.

||| RB

Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love III were the 1-2 combo here and they struggled to get much going. It’s no surprise considering the offensive line ahead of them, while decent, was consistently facing brutal opposition. They each ran hard and did all they could. Mockobee will return for his final season it appears and they bring in Virginia Tech transfer Malachi Thomas to likely form a similar 1-2 punch from the past regime.

||| WR

This room has been completely stripped for parts. Jahmal Edrine and Jaron Tibbs “led” the way with just 23 and 25 catches respectively. The lone returner with really any impact is former Georgia Bulldog De’Nylon Morrissette, who had just 11 grabs. Odom hit the portal quick to bring in some higher upside players, including from assistant coaches former stops with Chauncey Magwood (UCF) and Charles Ross (USC), but there remains a glaring lack of production and experience from this group.

||| TE

Max Klare was the lone bright spot on this offense as he caught 51 passes for over 650 yards and four scores. He is gone to the National Champs for 2025, as is backup Drew Biber (Minnesota). Former 4-star recruit Tayvion Galloway, who took a redshirt is moving on to Middle Tennessee. George Burhenn played very little as a true sophomore and Hinshaw brings in Luca Puccinelli from UCF. Maybe Burhenn is ready for this job, but again, a lack of experience here.

[ ADD SCREENSHOT ]

||| OL

A complete re-build is going to be needed here in the front lines. RT Marcus Mbow was the primary bright spot and C Gus Hartwig was pretty darn good. They faced a relentless schedule and held their own as best they could. Only RG DJ Wingfield is returning and Odom brings in three from his UNLV unit to try to get this turned around. That is quite the level-up for those guys and it really is cause for concern. Joey Tanona is a former 4-star recruit out of Notre Dame who transferred here in ‘23 and may be asked to step up at one of the tackle spots.

DEFENSE: The offense was bad but this defense was horrible. It’s surprising given Walters’ defensive background, but this went completely off the rails. It’s again worth mentioning that they played one of the most loaded scheduled with offensive talent. That said, 39.9 points per game (ranked 131st in FBS) and 452.7 yards/game (124th) is just unacceptable. They allowed 200 yards rushing per game (120th) and 9.2 yards per pass attempt (133rd). Opponents had success 48.3% of the time on third down and went 12/16 on fourth downs. They folded in the red zone, giving up 78% of trips ending in a touchdown. The only thing they did somewhat acceptable was limiting big, explosive plays. They allowed 50 plays of over 30+ yards (79th). It’s a forgettable season for sure and they get a new start with another defensive-minded head coach in Barry Odom. This is going to take a massive effort to get it to a place that is on par with even the middle of the Big Ten. That said, there is nowhere to go but up. This has to improve and it won’t be a one-year fix.

||| DL

Six of the top seven here will be moving on, either due to eligibility running out or a transfer out. Will Heldt was one of the few bright spots, managing six sacks, 36 stops and it headed to Clemson in ‘25. Mo Omonode is the one returning player with meaningful snaps and he played well in run defense. They are hitting the portal and the biggest get is from Akron as CJ Nunnally IV signs on. Two high-upside transfers include Breeon Ishmail (Michigan) and T.J. Lindsey (Auburn). This may take a minute.

||| LB

Kydran Jenkins was the lone bright spot here as he did all he could, including getting to the quarterback eight times. He graduates and another contributor, Yanni Karlaftis is heading to Northwestern as a transfer. Hudson Miller got good experience and returns. Mani Powell comes in from UNLV where he was really good and Odom hits up his former player pool at Arkansas to get a couple of guys he liked and wants to develop. Powell is young and likely the next star linebacker. They’ll need him to be.

||| DB

This was a much maligned group and when you see the top seven all hitting the portal, it usually gives you pause. This may actually be a good thing. Of course, it would have been nice to hold on to Dillon Thieneman, but Oregon came calling. Kyndrich Breedlove was serviceable at one of the corner spots and he’s now an ASU Sun Devil. This is where Odom focused his portal efforts and is bringing in a host of new players and by the looks of it, this will be a more talented and improved unit right away.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Eventually Ben Freehill replaced an ineffective Spencer Porath as the place kicker. That wasn’t pretty in 2024 as they hit a combined nine of 15 attempts. Punter Keelan Crimmons was also very average. Porath returns and may hold the duties, while Crimmons graduates. Sam Dubwig comes in from Arkansas and he’ll likely battle Bennett Boehnlein for the punting job. Neither has shown anything in games yet. They seemed to have forced Dillon Thieneman in the punt return duties as he didn’t perform well at all. All returners are leaving the program or graduating so that will be all-new. Again, not a bad thing.

Reader feedback is requested and encouraged! Who knows these teams better than their passionate fan bases? We don’t pretend to know it all and would love your feedback. We will update/edit based (and credit) for anything that is brought to our attention. Let’s do this together…

|||||| TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER

To sum this up, anybody with a pulse has committed elsewhere for 2025 and Odom is bringing in his guys in this first round of the portal. Since this is a big rebuild project, the Boilers will likely remain very active in the spring window to fill in more needs and have a better chance to field a competitive team in 2025. The focus was clearly in building up the secondary, which lost almost the entire unit. Again, that may not be a bad thing and based on the ratings alone, it would be an upgrade if they can gain quick cohesion in the defensive backfield. What this is not. It is not an Indiana situation where we saw Curt Cignetti rebuild and dramatically improve the roster in one off-season.

Below is a screen shot of the full, live Transfer Portal Tracker over at CFBDepth.com. Click the image or the button below to view it in its entirety…

Live Purdue Portal Tracker >

|||||| 2025 RECRUITING CLASS

Odom is a scout and develop kind of guy. He’s not likely to put up many top-20 classes. This one is a little light as he continues to get acclimated to the program. The did do well at quarterback and running back in this class and have ignored the wide receivers at this point. They are not done here as they may target some flips from higher-end prospects identifying that they won’t get early playing time at the biggest schools. Those who have enrolled would be considered transfers at that point.

Here is a snapshot of the 2025 Recruiting Class+ with a link to the live page with updates throughout the cycle:

2025 Purdue Recruiting Class+ >

|||||| 2025 SCHEDULE LOOK AHEAD

Certainly a tad easier than that season-long gauntlet they faced in 2024. They drop Oregon and Penn State. They do remain locked in with Ohio State, have to travel to the Big House and get Indiana in the finale again — this time at home. Notre Dame is in South Bend this year and that remains a yearly battle in the non-conference slate, which features a transitioning Ball State team and the Southern Illinois Salukis. They should top their win total from 2024 in the first two weeks of 2025.

There is a lot of movement and decisions to be made throughout the off-season, including more portal moves, winter workouts and spring ball. Get all caught up with the full-on State of the Chart Magazine coming in July. If you missed the ad before, get more information and give us your e-mail to stay in the loop on everything SOTC!

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