Fall Camp Report - August 21

Interviews: Coach Odom | Coach Henson | Coach Scherer | Coach Shibest

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Football officially hit single-digit days until the 2025 season opener with its practice on Thursday (Aug. 21). 

With the season fast approaching, head coach Barry Odom took a brief media availability to announce Purdue's starting quarterback ahead of the opener vs. Ball State.

“Ryan Browne will be the starting quarterback going into this first game,” said Odom. “We’re super excited about our quarterback room and the progress of every single one… Ryan will be the starter, and now the job is for everyone around the quarterback position to play at a high level.”

Offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Josh Henson agreed on the decision to select Browne as the starter, highlighting his impressive leadership.

“His intangibles are phenomenal, especially only being part of this team for 3-to-4 months,” said Henson. “You have to earn their respect to allow you to lead them in the way that he does. He’s vocal and intense about it. That’s, to me, one of the best parts about him and who he is as a leader on the team.”

With offense officially providing clarity at quarterback, specials teams coordinator James Shibest said the kicking position is still an active battle between Spencer Porath and Seth Turner. Shibest did, however, address the return situation stating Michael Jackson III as both a kick and punt return option and Antonio Harris and Jaheim Merriweather as kick returner options.

“When you look at the kick return guy, the running back position is a natural vision guy,” said Shibest. “But it has to be ball security and decision-making first… We have put them in those situations to see who can make those decisions.”

The defensive unit, under defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Scherer's guidance, continues to develop a tough mentality with many different player contributing to the hard, smart, tough theme. 

"We’re going to play hard, and we’re going to run to the football,” said Scherer. “There’s going to be a swarm of Purdue jerseys around the football. We’ve worked through it all fall and held guys accountable to it every day. If there’s one thing I’m confident in, it’s that we’re going to play very hard.”

The Boilermakers return to the practice field on Friday (Aug. 22).