Purdue football coach Barry Odom makes first public appearance
Purdue football coach Barry Odom addresses questions from media in first public appearance in West Lafayette
Purdue football doesn’t have to look too far for a blueprint to a quick turnaround.
When Indiana hired Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers coach brought 13 players with him from James Madison. That set the foundation for IU’s quick turnaround and College Football Playoff berth.
So far, new Boilermakers coach Barry Odom has convinced five UNLV players and six recruits to join him in West Lafayette. There may be more. UNLV finished its season with an LA Bowl win over beat Cal last week.
Of the five incoming Rebels, three are offensive linemen, joining OL coach Vance Vice, who accompanied Odom to Purdue. They are Hank Purvis, Jalen St. John and Mason Vicari.
St. John, who began his career at Arkansas, started at left tackle for UNLV last season and was a second-team All-Mountain West pick. Purvis (13 games) and Vicari (eight games) each played as true freshmen and have three years of eligibility left.
TE/FB Christian Moore and Christian Earls are the other UNLV player who has signed with the Boilers. Moore spent four seasons at Kansas State before starting 10 games for the Rebels last season. The 6-8 Earls played in seven games for UNLV after arriving via junior college.
The former UNLV recruits, who signed with Purdue are: St. Louis DB teammates Antonio Parker and Vi’Naz Cobb, Oklahoma TE Jon Grimmett, New York edge rusher Mason Alnutt, QB (and son) Garyt Odom and Fayetteville (Ark.) LB Parker Meese.
Purdue has also added three transfers from Arkansas, where Odom and members of his staff coached before heading to UNLV in 2023.
Purdue football transfer portal additions
Name | Previous School | Position |
EJ Colson | QB | UCF |
Carson Dean | LB | Arkansas |
Christian Earls | TE | UNLV |
Christian Moore | TE/FB | UNLV |
Hank Purvis | OL | UNLV |
Tahj Ra-El | S | Memphis |
Alex Sanford Jr. | LB | Arkansas |
Malachi Singleton | QB | Arkansas |
Jalen St. John | OL | UNLV |
Mason Vicari | OL | UNLV |