Purdue Football – 2026 Countdown to Kickoff: – Marc Nave Jr.

*Note: Name links to official Purdue Bio.

Position: Offensive Guard

Height: 6’4″

Weight:  355

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

High School: Central Catholic

Recruiting Class: 2024

Former Team: Kentucky

Eligibility Remaining: 3 seasons

High School Recruiting Rankings: Rating 3*(87.8) – National Rank: 656 – Position Rank: 58

Transfer Portal Rankings: Rating 3*(86) – National Rank: 1115 – Position Rank: 101

• 2024: Senior – Named All-District and All-Ohio
• 2024: Starter on a 16-0 State Championship Central Catholic team
• 2024: Named the Central Catholic Offensive Lineman of the Year
• Four-Year Starter for Central Catholic
• Won two state championships in high school

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• Appeared in one game

• Did not appear in a game

In the offensive line rotation at guard.

Marc Nave Jr. was a former Ohio State commit before flipping to Kentucky late. After spending a full season, plus 2025 spring practice, in Lexington, he hit the eject button and ended up in West Lafayette with new Boilermaker boss Barry Odom. Much like fellow SEC transfer Marques Easley, I thought you might see Nave Jr. find his way onto the field last season. I was relieved to see him return to West Lafayette in 2026 after being sidelined in 2025.

Simply put, Nave Jr. is massive. Granted, every offensive lineman in college football is a freak, but he stands out as a freak among freaks (positive connotation) at 6’4″, 355. On top of his prodigious size, he comes out of one of the best high school football programs in Ohio, Catholic Memorial, where he was a 4-year starter and 2-time state champion. He played in a bunch of important football games in his high school career and is looking to do the same at Purdue after spending last season getting oriented after coming over as a post-spring practice transfer.

My dream is for 6’6″, 320-pound Marques Easley to win the left guard spot and the 6’4″, 355-pound Nave Jr. to win the right guard job. Here’s the deal, though: 355 looks impressive on paper, but can he play 4 quarters of college football north of 350? I honestly did a double-take when I pulled up his bio because I wasn’t expecting 355. Maybe he can carry that much weight without sacrificing his ability to move, but I’m going to need to see it to believe it. I’d be more comfortable with him at a still beastly 320, but I doubt anyone of importance is going to call and ask my opinion on the matter.

Look for Nave Jr. to make the two-deeps at one of the guard spots and find a spot in the regular rotation. If nothing else, he should be a monster in short yardage and goal line situations.