Purdue Finalizes Top 25 Portal Class with 32 New BoilermakersPurdue Finalizes Top 25 Portal Class with 32 New Boilermakers
Chris Johnson/Purdue Athletics

Purdue Finalizes Top 25 Portal Class with 32 New Boilermakers

Coach Odom Press Conference Opens in a new window Portal Class (PDF) Opens in a new window

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With spring classes already underway and practice set to begin in early March, head coach Barry Odom announced the addition of 32 Boilermakers joining Purdue Football from the portal. Strengthening the program entering his second year as Purdue’s head coach, Odom and his staff assembled a Top 25 portal class that ranks 24th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten, according to On3.

“Our staff attacked the portal and brought in a group of Boilermakers that will elevate our program,” said Odom. “Combined with our returners whose decision to continue building this program cannot be overstated, we have a team of hard-working student-athletes that love the game of football and want to help us win right away. The majority of the newcomers are already here, and we are excited to see them on the field when we start spring practice in March. Boiler Up!”

Twenty of the newest Boilermakers played at Power 4 schools at their last stop, including nine that have appeared in the Big Ten Conference. 

Breaking down the portal class, 17 newcomers play defense, while 14 are on offense. Seven defensive backs were added to the secondary, while four linebackers, three defensive ends and a trio of defensive linemen round out that side of the ball. The offensive line and wide receiver rooms welcome five new Boilermakers apiece. Three running backs and Kylan Fox, a tight end from UCF, complete the portal additions on offense. Dylan Drennan, a Second Team All-MAC punter at Buffalo last season, is the lone specialist in the class.

The portal class brings the total number of new Boilermakers to 53, following the 21 (20 high school, 1 junior college) that signed in December. Sixteen of the December signees are already on campus to join Purdue for spring practice. 

2026 Purdue Football Portal Class

Name Class Position Height Weight Hometown (Previous School)
Micah Banuelos Jr. OL 6-2 310 Auburn, Wash. (USC)
Keyshawn Burgos Sr. DE 6-5 253 Chesterfield, Va. (Virginia Tech)
Mister Clark Jr. DB 6-0 185 Opa-locka, Fla. (FIU)
Justin Denson Jr. So. DB 6-2 194 Providence, R.I. (Michigan State)
Dylan Drennan So. P 6-2 205 Dallas, Texas (Buffalo)
Kylan Fox Jr. TE 6-4 235 Valdosta, Ga. (UCF)
Jerrick Gibson So. RB 5-10 205 Gainesville, Fla. (Texas)
Ta’Vari Hampton So. DB 6-0 185 Sanford, Fla. (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M)
Jojo Hayden Jr. LB 6-2 245 East St. Louis, Ill. (Illinois)
Jaylan Hornsby So. WR 6-3 215 Winslow Township, N.J. (Syracuse)
Fame Ijeboi So. RB 6-0 210 Folcroft, Pa. (Minnesota)
Jeremy Lewis Jr. DE 6-4 240 St. Louis, Mo. (Iowa Western)
Rodney Lora Jr. DL 6-3 300 North Arlington, N.J. (UCF)
Nuku Mafi So. OL 6-4 325 Rose Park, Utah (Oklahoma State)
Jaden Mangham Sr. DB 6-2 195 Birmingham, Mich. (Michigan)
Hudson Miller Sr. LB 6-0 235 Indianapolis, Ind. (Toledo)
Elo Modozie Sr. DE 6-4 248 St. Augustine, Fla. (Georgia)
Tre Moore Sr. LB 6-5 245 Chandler, Ariz. (San Diego)
Curt Neal Sr. DL 6-0 310 Cornelius, N.C. (Illinois)
Dee Newsome Jr. DB 6-3 170 Tuscumbia, Ala. (Samford)
Bisi Owens Sr. WR 6-4 215 Cooksville, Md. (Penn)
Makai Saina So. OL 6-3 270 Arlington, Texas (USC)
Ricky Sampson Jr. WR 6-4 210 Las Vegas, Nev. (Victor Valley)
Don Saunders Sr. DB 6-4 195 San Diego, Calif. (Utah)
Jatavius Shivers Jr. OL 6-6 315 Villa Rica, Ga. (South Carolina)
Wisdom Simms Sr. DL 6-4 315 Kannapolis, N.C. (NC Central)
John Slaughter Sr. DB 6-2 200 Clarksdale, Miss. (Colorado)
Anthony Speca Jr. LB 6-1 220 Bridgeville, Pa. (Penn State)
Boaz Stanley Sr. OL 6-4 310 Bogart, Ga. (South Carolina)
Travis Terrell Jr. Jr. RB 5-9 170 Atlanta, Ga. (Jackson State)
Xavier Townsend Sr. WR 5-11 195 Tampa, Fla. (Iowa State)
Asaad Waseem Jr. WR 5-11 175 Apopka, Fla. (FAU)