Old National Presents: The 3-2-1 of Purdue football

Three things learned. Two questions. One statement. It’s The 3-2-1, a look at Purdue spring football as April dawns.

Three things learned

1 – Most impressive position

The staff has been sorting through plenty of new players this spring, as now is the time to see who’s who. And one position has stood out for Purdue coach Barry Odom during all of this experimentation.

“I think the growth of the linebackers in nine days is really starting to stand out,” said Odom. “We’ve got a long ways to go, but guys are taking the coaching points and then able to retain it and then it shows up on film.”

Charles Correa is the bellwether for new again LB coach Kevin Kane. And Correa–who supposedly seriously contemplated transferring–often has been joined on the No. 1 defense with Illinois transfer Jojo Hayden, a big, physical ‘backer.

But keep an eye on Penn State addition Anthony Speca. And Winston Berglund is stating a case, too, for a spot that will miss Mani Powell.

2 – New title

Odom altered his coaching staff following his 2-10 debut. One of the tweaks? DB boss Charles Clark has added the title “defensive passing game coordinator” to his business card. What’s that entail?

“The biggest thing is just continuing to pour into the guys and the defense,” said Clark. “Coach Kane is the defensive coordinator and calls it, but we all have input. It’s about fine-tuning ways to build a group that can go win games.”

Odom is impressed by Clark.

“Well, there’s a lot of thing that Charles does,” said Odom. “I think Charles is going to be a head coach, if he chooses to go that path. He’s got tremendous leadership skills. He’s a great mentor. He finds how his players learn. Some guys learn through walk-throughs, some guys video study, some guys have to draw it. He’s a great teacher.

“Then he’s helped us so much game planning structurally, but then also his ability to recruit, retain, was as valuable as anybody in the offseason on trying to find a way to get that back.”

3 – Homestretch

Down the stretch it comes … spring football has less than two weeks left.

Purdue will hold its 10th session on Saturday, when Odom puts his Boilermakers through the paces of scrimmage–the second of the spring.

The staff has spent much of the spring sorting through talent, trying players at different positions–mixing and matching.

“We’ll go Thursday and then Saturday and then next week we’ve got Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and we’re trending in the right direction,” said Odom, whose team wraps spring April 11. “Excited about what the coaching staff is doing. We’re a stronger football team right now. More explosive football team than we really showed at any point last year, which is good to see. We’re playing faster, playing more physical, and playing with more discipline. So all of those characteristics will continue to carry us to to play winning football.”

Two questions

1 – Intriguing position?

No position has had a greater influx of talent than the secondary, which has imported six portal additions.

The DB roll call: John Slaughter (Colorado), Saunders, Dee Newsome (Samford), Jaden Mangham (Michigan), Justin Denson (Michigan State) and Mister Clark (Florida International). On top of those six additions, the staff also brought in two JCs: Dax Noles and Ta’Vari Hampton. Who has impressed?

“All of them have really, man, I’m glad that we were able to get them because we got experience and some production and guys that have played,” said Odom. “Slaughter’s playing really well. Denson’s playing really well. Ta’Vari Hampton continues to do some good things, moving those guys around. Mister Clark, playing at the nickel spot, both the high safety spots, and he’s a guy that really can play all five, the corner spots, as well. So, where is his best spot? Then the ability of Smiley Bradford’s playing better than he did last year.”

2 – How is tight end depth?

No sugarcoating: The position was a black hole last year after George Burhenn was lost to injury–again.

So far, so good for Burhenn this spring, which wasn’t the case last year when he suffered an ankle injury. He was ready for the start of 2025 but hurt an arm vs. ND and missed the final eight games.

“We’ll play multiple tight ends and George continues to make good progress. And, always everybody says: ‘Well can he stay healthy?’ ” said Odom. “You know, we all understand that and hopefully we can move past that narrative. Hopefully, he’ll continue. He’s working so hard. Such a wonderful young man. For a lot of reasons, for a team, but him personally, man, I want him to have a huge year. He’s been through a lot.”

Behind Burhenn is Luca Puccinelli and UCF transfer Kylan Fox. At 6-6, 265, Puccinelli is a de facto lineman, while the 6-4, 235-pound Fox is more of a “move” tight end in the mold of Burhenn.

“Luca would be in there depending if we’re going 11, 21, 12, 13 personnel and kind of what that looks like,” said Odom. “But Luca’s had a good spring so far.

“Fox transferred in and and really was feeling it out early on. Practice one, two, three, but the last three days is really making a push. He made some plays the other day. He’s doing some things in the run game blocking, which we’re excited about.”

One bold statement: We won’t see Joey Tanona rest of spring

He’s Purdue’s best o-lineman, but he’s coming off shoulder surgery. No since in risking a setback for the likely No. 1 left tackle. Also MIA: Ethan Trent, who I also doubt we will see the rest of spring as he comes off injury suffered earlier this spring.

In the meantime, new OL coach Zach Crabtree has been mixing and matching players, cross-training players to build versatility.