National Signing Day Superlatives

Purdue football is fresh off inking its 2026 recruiting class on Wednesday, as Barry Odom and company locked in 21 new Boilermakers for next season and beyond. The class has several intriguing members and storylines that filled the cycle. GoldandBlack.com hands out our Purdue National Signing Day superlatives, a day after all the ink dried.

Crown jewel: Jett Goldsberry

Jett Goldsberry could fit into a few of these categories, being the biggest name and land of the class. We’ll talk more about the flip from Ole Miss to Purdue later, but Barry Odom identified Goldsberry as a priority early on and eventually lands an intriguing talent from southern Indiana.

Goldsberry is a frontrunner for the Indiana Mr. Football award, and for good reason. The Heritage Hills star was a standout on both sides of the ball, racking up 3,372 total yards and 56 touchdowns as a quarterback, as well as 45 tackles, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks on defense.

That campaign could see Goldsberry become the fifth Mr. Football winner in the state to play for the Boilermakers straight out of high school. That list currently includes Brady Allen (2021), Markell Jones (2014), Jason Werner (2004), and Desmond Tardy (2003).

“I’m thrilled to have a chance to coach him. Was able to watch him play in person on our second bye week, in his semifinal game, he played every snap almost of the game, you know, quarterback on offense, and played every snap of defense that he could. And just the tenacity he plays with, he’s explosive, [he] is a special player. And for us to be able to keep him in state and be part of who we are going forward, we’re excited about the versatility he has, the play making skills he has, and the way he plays the game,” Odom said.

Goldsberry will line up somewhere in the secondary for Purdue. Where exactly could be up in the air, but expect him to make his presence felt early in his career for the Boilermakers.

Other contenders: Katrell Webb, Josiah Hope

Day one contributor: Izaiah Wright

I was asked on Wednesday, which players could I see potentially playing in year one? The top answer is running back signee Izaiah Wright. The most productive commit this fall, amassing 2,188 yards and 31 scores on the ground, all he does is do what you need him to on the field.

And Barry Odom agrees.

“I do think the way he runs, pad level, toughness. I do think he’s got some speed, really, really good vision, and he’s built physically like a guy that can come in and help us right away. And he’s got the right demeanor, I think he’s got the right mindset, he won’t shy away from past protection. Just think he’s got a lot of those qualities early on, that in his favor, can help him out,” Odom said.

Wright has the tools to be an every down back at Purdue, as he can pick up tough yards in short yardage, break off big runs, catch the ball out of the backfield and is stout in pass protection. Check all the boxes.

Furthermore, when you look at the current state of the backfield, opportunities are up for the taking. Antonio Harris and Jaron Thomas are the lone scholarship returners in the group, with Devin Mockobee and Malachi Thomas graduated and Jaheim Merriweather expected to enter the transfer portal.

Most underrated signee: Kobe Cherry

Another in-state standout that will stay in Indiana is perhaps the most underrated, in Kobe Cherry. The Center Grove standout was once a hot name on the recruiting trail, but a knee injury that wiped out his junior campaign could explain his dip in ratings. Purdue landed Cherry in June, who had garnered other offers from Indiana, Washington, Wisconsin and others.

Cherry was the most productive defensive commit this fall, tallying 102 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and five sacks. He is an elite run defender and can get after the quarterback. A home at defensive tackle is promising for a guy that has a high motor for being 295 pounds.

Other contenders: ArMari Towns, Brock Brownfield, Emoni Smith, Brandon Kinsey, Brayden Sweeney

Best position group: Defensive line

Speaking of future members of the defensive line in West Lafayette, that group earns the honors of best position group in the class. Defensive backs were close, especially after adding Jett Goldsberry late, and I am also high on tight ends ArMari Towns and Cooper McCutchan, but the defensive front is loaded with talent.

Starting with Cherry, Josiah Hope and Aiden Solecki, who all figure to be interior guys at the college level. Hope was the big fish out of that trio, flipping his way back into the Boilermakers’ class after de-committing previously. EDGE rushers Katrell Webb and Max Carmicle also offer high-upside talent for Jake Trump and the defensive ends.

From top to bottom, it is the most complete and talented group in the class and one that I am interested to see how they develop over the next few years.

Other contenders: Defensive backs, tight ends

Top flip landed: Jett Goldsberry (Ole Miss)

Back to the flip that had everyone chatting on Wednesday. Purdue had been working on getting Jett Goldsberry into the fold ever since he committed to Ole Miss. It was a never-ending press by Barry Odom and company that resulted in the Boilermakers picking up one of two Rivals four-stars in the class.

“Just because someone has committed maybe to another place, that doesn’t end the relationship, you continue to try to recruit them. I know that all 21 guys that we signed today, they all had opportunities to go somewhere else. So as long as the prospect and or the family and the high school coach are still allowing recruiting, it’s our job to do everything we can to try to continue to recruit them. So it was ongoing with Jett,” Odom said.

There were a few factors at play. Odom pointed to the family connection as Goldsberry’s father, Jon, played for the Boilermakers, Jon said on X that “If Jett’s knee were healthy today, there is a great chance that this flip wouldn’t exist,” after announcing the star Heritage Hills playmakers’ torn ACL, and the departure of Lane Kiffin surely didn’t help matters.

Regardless, Purdue landed a top in-state talent. And that should be something to applaud if you’re a Purdue fan.

Other contenders: Josiah Hope (Louisville), Emoni Smith (Louisville), Cooper McCutchan (North Carolina), Jojo Johnson (Coastal Carolina), Max Carmicle (Northern Illinois), Corin Berry (Boston College).

Best recruiting victory: Katrell Webb

This falls under the “non-flip category” as Goldsberry and Josiah Hope were two key gets for the Boilermakers on signing day. Looking back, however, Purdue’s efforts to land Katrell Webb were big for the class. Webb was down to the Boilermakers, Florida State and Indiana.

Odom and company beat out a program on the rise and an established powerhouse (at least prior to these last couple of years) for a Georgia guy. It also gives Mike Scherer a talented pass rusher with a well-rounded arsenal to develop in West Lafayette.

“Look at some of the things that we saw from him in his junior tape do out of the stand up defensive end, Joker position, I think it relates well to what we want him to do at this level. He’s got the ability to bend, he’s got the ability to really have a one on one, getting in that situation pass rush. He’s got some natural ability with that,” Odom said.

Other contenders:: Jett Goldsberry, ArMari Towns, Josiah Hope.

Working til the end: ArMari Towns

I must admit. I was far from convinced that ArMari Towns would end up in West Lafayette. From the time he committed in April, other programs were looking to flip him, including Florida State, Auburn and eventually, North Carolina. It looked to me that he was destined for elsewhere for months.

Towns visited all three schools, but the Tar Heels were the biggest threat, as he took an official visit to Chapel Hill in late November. The race came down to Purdue and UNC, but the Boilermakers were the ones to come out victorious.

Purdue being able to hold onto Towns is a testamate to the recruiting efforts of analyst/assistant tight ends coach David Spurlock and the rest of the offensive staff, who Towns said he had a strong relationship with.

“Most definitely the relationship. Like, I have relationship with all coaches. They all stay in touch with me, they all stay in touch with my family,” Towns said in June. “The school overall, like the people, everything, it’s a lot of people that like it as well. So it’s not just me, not just my family. Me being around the others and them liking it just as much as I do. Honestly, it says a lot about it.

Other contenders: Dana Greenhow, Jett Goldsberry, Josiah Hope

First off the bus: Rico Schrieber

I went back and forth with this one, as Max Carmicle and Josiah Hope also have good arguments, but I eventually landed on Schrieber.

One of the biggest guys in the class, regardless of school or position, earns the “first off the bus” distinction. Rico Schrieber is a towering 6 feet, 7 inches and is listed at 325 pounds at the time of signing day.

The first 2026 pledge of the Odom era is a behemoth and an offensive lineman that comes with the length and size needed to play in the Big Ten. The strength and conditioning staff will continue to work on getting Schrieber’s body in a position to compete in West Lafayette, but the big man from Chicago should be first off the bus.

Other contenders: Max Carmicle, Josiah Hope, Brock Brownfield, Kobe Cherry

Highest upside: Max Carmicle

Speaking of Max Carmicle, another guy with the measurables that college coaches rave about and a background in basketball make for a fascinating project. Carmicle is just three years into his football career, stepping onto the field for the first time as a sophomore, but quickly emerged as a Power 4 prospect. At 6 feet, 8 inches, Carmicle is long and can move well for a player of his size.

“I mean, he’s got really good length. I think he’s got good explosion and acceleration off the ball and then control,” Odom said of Carmicle.

In two years at the varsity level, he tallied 86 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks for Hillcrest (Ill.). It might be a couple of years before he’s ready, but his desire to be great and learn under the Purdue staff, mixed with his physical traits makes for the highest upside in the class.

Other contenders: ArMari Towns, Katrell Webb, Terrell Berryhill, Brandon Kinsey