Purdue football position unit rankings: No. 1 offensive line

Drum roll please… capping off GoldandBlack.com’s Purdue football position unit rankings series, it is the big men up front that take the top spot prior to fall camp commencing in West Lafayette bright and early Thursday morning.

When the Boilermakers kick off the 2025 campaign against Ball State on August 30th, it will feature an offensive line with five new starters. Three headed to the next level to pursue NFL aspirations (Marcus Mbow, Gus Hartwig and Corey Stewart), while Mahamane Moussa and DJ Wingfield left via the transfer portal, heading to Louisville and USC, respectively.

It is a pair of returners that could suit up at both tackle spots in the season-opener, with Joey Tanona locked into the starting left tackle role and Bakyne Coly in the mix at right tackle. Tanona is perhaps Purdue’s top offensive linemen at the moment and one of the few that has his spot all but locked up heading into fall camp. The Notre Dame transfer is starting to show why he was a touted recruit before a car accident halted his development with the Fighting Irish.

Coly has been brought along over the last couple of years after coming from Lawrence Tech (NAIA) prior to the 2023 campaign. This fall provides an opportunity for the former hooper to come into his own and earn a starting spot with the Boilermakers.

Another returner that was among the surprises this spring was Ethan Trent, who got run with the first team offense at times. Trent’s elevated play earned him a scholarship from the program and he figures to be one of the top backup options at either center or guard.

Even with those two, the massive overhaul leaves positions open for the taking this fall, and new offensive line coach Vance Vice was one of the most active recruiters on Barry Odom’s staff as he looked to revamp the trenches. He did just that.

In the winter window, the Boilermakers signed UNLV all-conference tackle Jalen St. John, who is expected to hold down left guard with the Boilermakers, as well as fellow ex-Rebels Hank Purvis and Mason Vicari. Purdue also headed north to find potential starting center Giordano Vaccaro out of Canada.

Vaccaro and St. John are poised to earn starting roles this fall, with Vaccaro currently slotted in at center and St. John to his side at left guard. Another transfer could flank Vaccaro on the opposite side, as ex-Auburn lineman Bradyn Joiner enters the mix and is a top option to slide into the starting five at right guard. Joiner is just a sophomore and was an All-SEC Freshman Team honoree with the Tigers in 2024.

Joiner was a headliner for the spring portal haul, that also included Jude McCoskey (Tulane), Tyrell Green (Eastern Kentucky), Marques Easley (Georgia), and Marc Nave (Kentucky). McCoskey and Easley are two names to know for the right tackle job, as both will be in competition with Coly for that starting role. Easley could be Purdue’s most talented lineman, but is he ready for a steep increase in playing time after one year in Athens? We might get to find out in the near future. He can also play guard for the Boilermakers, so his role is to be determined.

Green and Nave also provide high upside, younger linemen that Vice and company can mold for the future. Purdue also has depth pieces in John Randle and Max Parrott. Junior college offensive lineman Isoa Takeifanga was expected to join the roster as well, but did not make it to campus.

GoldandBlack.com’s take on the unit:

The offensive line earned the top spot in GoldandBlack.com’s position unit rankings after a portal frenzy revamped the front lines for Vance Vice and key returners emerged as potential difference-makers in 2025. The current configuration could look like Tanona (left tackle), St. John (left guard), Vaccaro (center), Joiner (Auburn) and Coly (right tackle).

The biggest question mark surrounding that starting lineup is likely right tackle, as Coly could be pushed by both Easley and McCoskey. With the exception of that perceived battle, the first team offensive line seems to be penciled in. Of course, things are fluid with such a revamped roster, so there could be changes throughout fall camp in terms of what the configuration winds up being by the time August 30th rolls around.

Still, a mixture of productive and intriguing talent gives the Purdue offensive line the potential to be the best unit on the roster. That

GoldandBlack.com’s Purdue football position unit rankings:

10. Wide receivers

9. Special teams

8. Tight ends

7. Quarterbacks

6. Cornerbacks

5. Linebackers

4. Safeties

3. Defensive line

2. Running back

1. Offensive line