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Odom believes in Ryan Browne as Purdue’s QB

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•06/12/25•

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Ryan-Browne-sized
Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne (Chad Krockover)

Barry Odom had barely been on the job last December when he sat across from Ryan Browne. Was the redshirt freshman quarterback gonna stay? Or leave?

“He was already really out the door,” said Odom.

But Odom had planted a seed before he saw Browne exit for North Carolina via the portal.

“I think I at least gave him something to think about,” said Odom, “about program, direction, structure, coaching staff, even though we didn’t have a coordinator or quarterbacks coach hired at that time, I talked about philosophy. And I could tell he was torn a little bit in that decision.”

Odom wanted to keep the door cracked open for a possible Browne reunion.

“I just wished him the best,” said Odom. “I said I didn’t want to lose him. And I said if things don’t work out or you have a change of mind or heart at your new place, then we’ll be here.”

Fast-forward four months, and Browne was making a u-turn back to West Lafayette.

“When we knew that Ryan was interested in looking at another opportunity, I had seen enough tape on him from the last year,” said Odom. “I really liked his genuine makeup of when I had the one conversation with him before he left. So, we started recruiting him actively at that point and tried to get him into our program.”

The sophomore finds himself dropped into a milieu of quarterbacks as the 2025 season quickly approaches. There was no clarity during spring ball among a trio of transfers: Malachi Singleton (Arkansas), EJ Colson (UCF) and Evans Chuba (Washington State). Holdover Bennett Meredith may have been the best of the bunch. Colson has since left.

The 6-4, 215-pound Browne is thought to be a good fit for an offense that will feature its share of quarterback run.

“I think Ryan, to me, showed competitive spirit in the opportunities he had last year,” said Odom. “I think you look at arm release, ability to make most throws, athletic ability appeared to me on film that he had some toughness, all of those things, qualities that you look at that position how important they are. I think he’s got a huge future and a big upside.”

MORE: Training camp dates | Roster distribution | 2025 schedule

Browne flashed potential in 50-49 OT loss at Illinois last October playing for an injured Hudson Card. Browne was valiant in defeat, throwing for 297 yards (18-of-26 passing, 69 percent) and 3 TDs and running for 118 yards on 17 carries (6.9 ypc) vs. the Illini.

Odom isn’t ready to anoint anyone the No. 1 signal-caller at the moment. But he knows the importance of having multiple quarterbacks ready in his offense.

“I like the development of the room, certainly on the position we left spring practice out of,” said Odom. “I also believe in the world of playing the way we’re going to on offense, you better have two to three that you feel like you can win with.”

Browne and Singleton seemingly are at the top of pecking order as camp approaches with a July 31 start date.

“Once we learned that he had entered the portal, there was a conversation about the same things I talked to him about in December,” said Odom. “That there would be opportunity to compete. He had some clarity, obviously, now on who our coordinator was, who was position coach. I think the conversation piece on the people he still knew on the roster played in our favor on the structure of the program, on the way it was going.”

POSITION ANALYSIS: Running backs | Quarterbacks | Offensive line | Receivers | Tight ends | Defensive ends | Defensive tackles | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Special Teams

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