Coach Odom has had a busy week.

Arrived late Sunday Night, met with the team on Monday, Press Conference on Tuesday, and one-on-one with the remaining 40+ players on Wednesday, all while trying to navigate the portal/hire a staff.

The portal is open for just over two more weeks and Purdue still has their work cut out for themselves.

A major date to keep in mind is December 18th. Why? This is the day that UNLV plays in the LA Bowl against Cal. After the bowl game, I would expect immediate staff announcements and UNLV Players entering the portal.

It seems as if Coach Odom wants to respect UNLV and allow them to have a chance in the bowl game by allowing staff to coach in the game and players to play. Quite literally the exact opposite of the treatment that Jeff Brohm gave Purdue just over two years ago, which ended in a blowout bowl game.

Offensive Needs:

Quarterback:

Purdue has lost their top three options going into the Odom era. Card is headed towards graduation, Davila and Browne hit the portal. Davila and Browne could return to Purdue to lead the quarterback room, but it is not evident if that will happen or not.

Bennett Meredith is still on the roster, according to the roster on Purdue Athletics, and incoming freshmen Garyt Odom and Sawyer Anderson should provide depth.

Losses:

1. Hudson Card – Graduation
2. Marcos Davila – Portal
3. Ryan Browne – Portal

On Roster:

1. Bennett Meredith – Junior
2. Garyt Odom – Freshman
3. Sawyer Anderson – Freshman
4. Carson Kitchel – Walk-On – RS Freshman

Offensive Line:

The Purdue Offensive Line is set to lose all 5 starters from the 2024 season. Mbow is definitely an NFL type of player, Hartwig has been a 4-year starter, Moussa has been solid, but up and down, Griffin is graduating and Wingfield is as well.

So, there is plenty of work to do with this group. There are pieces, Joey Tanona, Bakyne Coly and Josh Sales Jr should all be in the mix to be veteran starters during the 2025 season.

1. Marcus Mbow – NFL
2. Gus Hartwig – Graduation, Potential NFL
3. Mahamane Moussa – Transfer to Louisville
4. Anthony Boswell – Portal
5. Jalen Grant – Portal
6. Luke Griffin – Graduation
7. DJ Wingfield – Graduation

On Roster:

1. John Randle Jr – RS Freshman
2. Rod Green – Senior
3. Jordan King – RS Freshman
4. Jimmy Liston – RS Sophomore
5. Max Parrott – RS Freshman
6. Jaden Ball – RS Freshman
7. Jaekwon Bouldin – Senior
8. Joshua Sales Jr – Senior
9. Bakyne Coly – Senior
10. Joey Tanona – Junior

Tight End:

Arguably the biggest loss on offense is Max Klare. He is ranked as the #1 Transfer Portal Tight End according to 247 Sports. He led Purdue in yards, receptions, and touchdowns. Losing Biber as a depth piece hurts as well, Galloway was a 4-star freshman and took a redshirt, he could be open to returning, but as of now, he is still in the portal. Max Klare visited Texas yesterday.

George Burhenn can easily lead this group but is coming off of an injury. He is an electric athlete.

On Roster:

1. George Burhenn – Junior
2. Luke Klare – RS Freshman (Walk-On)
3. James Hardy – RS Freshman (Walk-On)
4. Jon Grimmett – Freshman (UNLV Flip)

Losses:

1. Max Klare – Portal
2. Drew Biber – Portal, Committed to Minnesota
3. Tayvion Galloway – Portal

Defensive Needs:

Defensive Line:

Purdue is set to lose 4 contributors from the 2024 roster. Brevard, Helft, M’Ba, and Sillah are all moving on, with Heldt visiting some major SEC and Big Ten Programs in the portal. Purdue has bodies on the roster, but for a defense that is based on a 4-3, are they 4-3 type of bodies?

Omonode surely will find his way on the field, as he has done for three seasons now. Chops Harkless could be a solid nose in a 4-3 scheme, could CJ Madden and Trey Smith hold down the Defensive End spots?

There are a lot of questions within this group, but there are bodies and even veteran bodies.

Losses:

1. Jamari Payne – Transfer
2. Cole Brevard – Transfer
3. Will Heldt – Transfer
4. Jeffrey M’Ba – NFL
5. Joe Anderson – Graduation
6. Shitta Sillah – Graduation
7. Jireh Ojata – Graduation

On Roster:

1. Trey Smith – RS Sophomore
2. CJ Madden – Junior
3. Joe Strickland – Junior
4. Demeco Kennedy – RS Freshman
5. Demarjhe Lewis – Senior
6. Jamarius Dinkins – Senior
7. Caleb Irving – RS Freshman
8. Mo Omonode – Senior
9. Jamarrion Harkless – RS Sophomore
10. Drake Carlson – RS Sophomore
11. Landon Brooks – Freshman
12. Rashad Jones – Freshman

Linebacker:

In the 4-3 defense, you usually want a thumper in the middle. Jenkins could have been ideal in that role, but he is moving on, as well as Yanni Karlaftis who may have been exposed a bit this year.

But, there are three starting spots for a linebacker in the new base 4-3 scheme, and… there are just five linebackers on the roster. There will need to be some additions to this group. Davis could fit as a thumper in the middle, as he is over 240 pounds now. Of the group I like Berglund the most, he is a solid athlete to potentially play the “SAM” role. Meese was a solid flip from UNLV to Purdue.

Losses:

1. Kydran Jenkins – Graduation
2. Yanni Karlaftis – Portal

On Roster:

1. Winston Berglund – RS Sophomore
2. Owen Davis – RS Sophomore
3. Hudson Miller – Junior
4. Parker Meese – Freshman
5. Sam Steward – Freshman