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Purdue in mix for Joaquin Kavouklis

by: Dub Jellison02/02/26dubjellison

As Purdue looks to land its centerpiece in the 2027 recruiting class, several options are on the table. The quarterback position is coveted annually, and while a number of top talent is off the board, there are still gifted signal caller up for grabs in the cycle.

2027 three-star Gaither (Fla.) quarterback Joaquin Kavouklis is one such name to monitor in that regard.

Kavouklis was an early offer by quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw last off-season, but committed to Arkansas last July. After Sam Pittman was fired and Bobby Petrino departed for North Carolina, the Florida signal caller opened his recruitment back up in late January, and Purdue is an option.

Hinshaw and Kavouklis have a unique relationship, as the Purdue quarterbacks coach played with his father, Emmanuel, who was an offensive lineman for UCF when Hinshaw was the quarterback for the Knights.

“Coach Hinshaw and I have known each other for a couple years now. He was actually one of the first to offer me when he was at UCF. First time I met him was when he came to scout Evans Chuba when I was a freshman at CAI. In addition to that he and my father were teammates back when he was at UCF in the early 90s,” Kavouklis said.

The connection is there, and Kavouklis can see himself in West Lafayette under the tutelage of Hinshaw with the Boilermakers.

“Coach Hinshaw is very good at relaying his message of what he needs and his expectations. I can see myself developing with him and the staff at Purdue,” Kavouklis said.

“Purdue has a great history of both athletics and academics. Their reputation of putting out great QBs is amazing. The program is rising, and my HS teammate Evans Chuba is currently a quarterback there so that would be amazing to reunite with him as well,” Kavouklis said.

Among the most important factors for Kavouklis during his recruitment are his relationship with the coaching staff, the offensive scheme in place and the opportunity to be developed as a quarterback and as a person.

Purdue remained in contact with Kavouklis while he was still committed to the Razorbacks and the push is stronger now that the junior quarterback is back on the open market. Purdue is expected to receive a visit this spring, but that date is to be determined.

Ole Miss, Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech, are also on the hit list for visits this spring. Miami, Penn State, and Virginia Tech have also been in contact with Kavouklis, as reported by Rivals’ Marcus Benjamin last month.

“There’s a few new ones that have entered the picture but right now I’m concentrating on the off-season training and upcoming visits this spring,” Kavouklis said.

Purdue is firmly in the mix for Kavouklis, who is one of several key targets of note at the position in the cycle, alongside the top uncommitted signal caller in the class Israel Abrams, four-star Georgia quarterback Ben Musser, Illinois commit Kamden Lopati, surging Illinois quarterback Jake Nawrot, California gun slinger Dane Weber and the recently offered Andre Adams.

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