Old National Presents: 3-2-1

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

Three things learned

1 – New man in town

Purdue has hired Butler Benton to be its executive director of player personnel. And it’s a big deal. Benton comes to West Lafayette from UCLA, where he was the GM.

No doubt, Benton will have a major hand in building the Boilermaker roster moving forward along with other front office decision makers and staffers as Barry Odom builds his next roster incarnation.

Benton is well-thought of among his peers, boasting a varied resume with stops at places like Notre Dame, Arkansas and Michigan State, among other places.

Bottom line: The Purdue personnel department continues to evolve in these ever-changing times–and that’s a good thing. Now comes the interesting part: Deciding who to retain and who to cull from the portal. Should be fascinating.

2 – Heading west

In recent years when Purdue played on the West Coast, it left West Lafayette a day early to adapt to the time change and such. But when the Boilers jet to Seattle for this Saturday’s game at Washington, they will leave on Friday–not Thursday.

The team usually flies from the Purdue airport but will bus to Indianapolis where it will depart on Friday for U-Dub.

“Last year, we went to Hawaii from Las Vegas, and felt like we had a pretty good plan for that,” said Odom. “Look at the time that the kick is (7 p.m. ET), what we really feel like we want to get done before we leave. We’re leaving early enough on Friday that we feel really good about our plan.

“And then, fortunately, we’ve got a bye the week after, because we won’t get back to West Lafayette probably until around 5 am Sunday morning. So, on the back end of that, you worry about it if it’s turning around for another quick game. … We’ve got a bye, so I think that helps us out.”

After the bye, Purdue finishes the season on Black Friday evening vs. No. 2 Indiana.

3 – Hello, old friend

When Purdue treks to the Emerald City to play Washington, it will encounter a familiar face: Former head coach Ryan Walters.

“Ryan and I have known each other for a long time,” said Odom. “I mean, probably, I don’t know, maybe since 2008 or ’09. I’ve known him a long time. I consider him a friend.

“I know his wife, Tara, and his boys, and so he’s a friend.”

Walters was canned last December after a dreadful two-year run that saw the Boilermakers go 5-19 overall and 3-15 in the Big Ten. Last season will go down as one of the worst in school history, as the Boilers finished 1-11 with 11 consecutive defeats.

Walters is calling a Husky defense that is allowing just 20.0 ppg. And he is helped by another face familiar to Odom: younger brother Brian Odom, who is the inside linebackers coach.

Two questions

1 – What is biggest portal need?

I think, without a doubt, it is defensive end. Yes, Akron transfer CJ Nunnally has been productive, but he is gone after 2025 and there has been little juice outside of him at the position.

The “Den of Defensive Ends” is a shadow of its once formidable self. There are no Rosevelt Colvins, Cliff Avrils, Anthony Spencers or Ryan Kerrigans.

Difference-makers are needed. And if Purdue is going to get one or two from the portal, it’s going to be very expensive. This will be a good litmus test to see how serious/committed the athletic department is to building a strong roster.

2 – Win out West?

Going to play in the Pacific Time Zone hasn’t been kind to Purdue over the last 50 years.

Since 1975, the Boilers have lost …

at Oregon State (2024)
at Oregon (2009)
at Rose Bowl vs. Washington (2001)
at USC (1998)
at Cal (1991)
at Washington (1989)
at Washington (1987)
at UCLA (1979)
at USC (1975)

The lone win: The Foster Farms Bowl over Arizona in the Bay Area in 2017.

That’s 1-9 on the West Coast since 1975

NOTE: Purdue won at Arizona in 2005 and lost at Nevada in 2019, places that are West but not on the coast.

One bold statement: No offensive players merit post-season honors

All of the worthy candidates are on defense and special teams: LB Mani Powell, S Tahj Ra-El, P Jack McCallister, LB Charles Correa, K Spencer Porath, DE C.J. Nunnally and S Myles Slusher.

It has been that kind of year.

MORE: First and 10: Purdue at Washington | First Look: Washington | Barry Odom vs. Ryan Walters: Friends collide on opposite sidelines

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