Boilers Wrap Up Second Spring Practice

Interviews: Coach Henson | George Burhenn | Luca Puccinelli

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Football took to the field for its second of 15 spring practices on Thursday morning inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center. 

Offensive coordinator Josh Henson prepares for his second season calling plays for the Boilermakers. A missing piece of the offense last season was top tight end talent George Burhenn, who appeared in the first four games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury against Notre Dame. With time to heal in the offseason, Burhenn is poised to rejoin the offense in a big way.

"George Burhenn is moving really well and he’s looking very good," said Henson. "It looks like he’s back all the way from his injuries."

Burhenn has appeared in just eight games over the last two seasons due to injuries after he appeared in 11 games as a true freshman in 2023. In his career, Burhenn has hauled in 15 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown. 

During the retooling of the roster in the offseason, Purdue brought in competition at the tight end position in transfer Kylan Fox from UCF and freshmen Cooper McCutchan and Ar'Mari Towns. McCutchan and Towns will join the program during the summer.

"I think this is a highly skilled group with a lot of weapons," said Burhenn. "I’m excited to see what we can do."

Another returner at the tight end position, Luca Puccinelli, had a strong finish to the 2025 season when he hauled in the first three passes of his career for 24 yards in the season finale against Indiana. The Glen Allen, Virginia native started his career at Wake Forest before seizing the opportunity to join the Boilermakers.

"As a kid, I always dreamed of playing in the Big Ten," said Puccinelli. "Once you see an opportunity, you have to go out there and grab it."

The Boilermakers are set to conclude their first week of spring ball on Saturday, March 7.