Old National Presents: The 3-2-1: Buckle your chinstrap. It's finally football time

Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s The 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football as training camp opens this week.

Three things learned

1 – It’s time

It feels like Christmas morning, as Barry Odom is set to open his first football camp on Thursday. What are we gonna get? We won’t truly know–of course–until the opener on Aug. 30 in Ross-Ade vs. Ball State. Still, this is exciting as speculation and conjecture continue to swirl. What to make of a team with over 70 new players? Just bananas.

Players have been off since July 26. They return for a team meeting at 4:30 p.m. on July 30. The first of 25 practices commences Thursday. The squad is set to hold scrimmages on August 9 and August 16 with a mock game on August 23. Classes start August 25.

Then, game time vs. the Cardinals, as Purdue opens the season with three home tilts. Start icing the Old Style in your Yeti.

2 – Welcome, newbies

Purdue was very active in the spring portal window, bringing in a whopping 29 players (29!) who will suit up for the first time this month as Boilermakers. Chief among the recent portal additions are QB Ryan Browne, WR Nitro Tuggle, LB Charles Correa, OL Marc Nave and OL Marques Easley, among others.

Topping the list of spring portal imports: six defensive linemen and six defensive backs. And five offensive linemen and four wide receivers also were brought it.

My guess as to who is the best portal addition–winter and spring–at each position.

Position	Player
QB	Ryan Browne
RB	Malachi Thomas
WR	Nitro Tuggle
TE	Christian Moore
OL	Jalen St. John
DE	TJ Lindsey
DT	Ian Jeffries
LB	Mani Powell
CB	Tony Grimes
S	Crew Wakley

3 – All eyes on QB

Technically, it is an open competition for the job, with Browne and Malachi Singleton the main combatants. Each figures to get ample reps in camp with the first-team as practices commence. But, at some point, a QB1 must be named. 

“The sooner that we can identify who’s going to be our starter, probably the better for our team,” said Odom.

How soon? The scrimmages on August 9 and August 16 should tell us plenty. Gotta think we’ll have a QB1 by the time the mock game is played on August 23–if not sooner.

Odom has said you need two QBs to win in the Big Ten. That doesn’t necessarily mean two QBs will play each game. Just remember that.

Two questions

1 – How do the WRs look?

How can we put this nicely? OK, let’s say the Boilermaker wideouts “under performed” in 2024 and just leave it at that. An inability to beat defenses deep was a big handicap, as the opposition often sat on the Boilers with zone coverage. Explosive plays were rare.

The position has undergone massive tumult, with talent leaving and being replaced via the portal. How good are the new pass catchers? We never got a good read on the unit in the spring, thanks in part to spotty QB play.

Wish I could tell you something more definitive. Of course, the name that buzzes is Tuggle, who needs to deliver the goods. Is he WR1?

2 – Who is who? What is what?

How can we put this nicely? OK, let’s say the Boilermaker defensive backs “under performed” in 2024 and just leave it at that. As many questions envelope the secondary as the wideout corp.

The DBs room was torn asunder by defections with staffers bringing in 12 portal players. The spring offered little clarity as the passing game rarely tested the unit. 

Who is who? What is what? Sure things? Bank on Grimes starting at one cornerback slot. Hudauri Hines is a good bet to start opposite Grimes. Safety? Who knows? Gonna be lots of mixing and matching in camp … and probably early in the season.

One bold statement: The line will be strength of offense

That would be a terrific thing. Football is won in the trenches. If you are good up front on both sides of the ball, you have a chance to be salty.

The staff has done a nice job adding quality depth and plenty of size. Now, it’s about finding the right mix. The No. 1 line could look like this (left to right): T Joey Tanona, G St. John, C Giordano Vaccaro, G Bradyn Joiner, T Bakyne Coly. Joiner could be a guy to watch at center, too.