Through four games, Purdue is 2-2. It's where most expected. Through a third of the season, which players have stood out and who must improve?
WEST LAFAYETTE ― Purdue football is a third of the way through its regular season schedule.
The Boilermakersare 2-2, winning the two games most expected them to and losing the two games oddsmakers thought they would.
Four games has offered a fair sample size before a critical stretch of Purdue's season in October.
Who has improved their stock? Whose stock is down? And where must we still wait and see?
Evaluating who has moved the needle and who hasn't through four games of Purdue football's 2025 season.
Stock up
Spencer Porath and Jack McCallister: Barry Odom called James Shibest the best special teams coach "in all of football." On Sept. 20 at Notre Dame, we saw the first trick play out of a special teams unit this season, something Shibest has become known for, when McCallister gained 10 yards on a fake punt and picked up a first down. McCallister ranks second in the league in punting average at 49.1 yards. Meanwhile, Porath is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals with a long of 48 and has nailed all 13 of his extra points.
Receivers: De'Nylon Morrissette and Chauncey Magwood have yet to play a game, and both were expected to be significant pieces of Purdue's receiving corps. No one has separated from the pack as a go-to receiver, but as a unit, the position group has been balanced and solid. Four different wide receivers ― Michael Jackson III (18), Nitro Tuggle (10), EJ Horton (10) and Arhmad Branch (9) ― have at last nine catches and four, while Jackson, Tuggle, Branch and Jesse Watson have a touchdown reception.
Josh Henson: It had been a long time since Purdue's offensive coordinator was also his team's play caller. The play calling has been commended by players as well as Purdue's head coach. The Boilers have scored at least 30 in three of their four games. Even with limitations in the running game, Purdue has found a way to convert nearly half of its third downs (24 of 53) and is 6 of 7 on fourth downs (one fake punt). In 18 red zone trips, Purdue walked away with points 15 times. The other three were interceptions against USC where play calling wasn't the culprit.
Stock down
Offensive line: This was a perceived strength entering the year. Thus far, Purdue has ridden the same unit: Joey Tanona, Jalen St. John, Bradyn Joiner, Ethan Trent and Bakyne Coly. As good as Purdue's offense has been as a whole, the passing attack has carried that. The Boilers average 3.1 yards per carry and Purdue QBs have been sacked nine times. That group also has been tagged with eight penalties. Pro Football Focus grades Purdue at 112th nationally out of 136 FBS programs in passing blocking and 113th in run blocking.
Secondary: Through four games, Purdue has zero interceptions and there's been far too many big plays through the air. It's not void of big plays though. Myles Slusher, Crew Wakley and Smiley Bradford have been solid tacklers. Tahj Ra-El has also been good. Coverage overall has been below average, a concerning sign for a team that bolstered its defensive back room with experienced transfers.
Wait and see
Ryan Browne: It's apparent why Browne won the starting quarterback job. But he's by no means a finished product. Browne is one of four Big Ten quarterbacks with more than 1,000 passing yards through four games, but his 5 interceptions also are second most in the league. Browne tried to make a play against USC while getting hit, which was likely at least a 10-point swing when USC plucked it out of the air and returned it for a 70-yard TD. Two others in that game also probably took points off the board for the Boilers. Without those, that game could've played out differently. Correctable mistakes for a guy who still hasn't played a ton of college reps.
Purdue Boilermakers: The Boilers have not played complementary football in their last two games. Scoring 30 points on the road should give you a chance and instead Purdue was blown out by four touchdowns at Notre Dame. Even though the defense didn't force a punt versus USC on Sept. 13, it was much better in drop coverage and limited the Trojans in the second half. Purdue's defensive staff has quality coaches who've succeeded elsewhere, and the players are probably better than what they've shown. The Boilermakers must prove it moving forward.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Whose stock is up, down for Purdue football after 4 games?
Category: General Sports
