Purdue Football: Depth Chart Review – Offense – Minnesota

That was one of the best offensive performances I’ve seen from a Purdue team in quite some time. It wasn’t just 41 points; it was how they scored them. Offensive coordinator Josh Henson, a former offensive line coach, leaned on Coach Zach Crabtree’s big boys up front, and they responded by dominating the line of scrimmage. Their blocking, paired with Fame Ijeboi’s indomitable running and Ryan Browne’s playmaking both inside and outside the pocket allowed Barry Odom to keep his offense on the field the majority of the game.

Minnesota needs its offense to have the ball. Their goal is to drag you into the deep water with their running game and hope you drown in the 4th quarter. Purdue’s offense didn’t let them play their game. The best way to keep the Gophers from beating you in the 4th quarter is to start the fourth quarter with a 27-13 lead. Ryan Browne and Fame Idjeboi might be Purdue’s most valuable offensive and defensive players. Purdue won the time of possession 37 minutes to 23 minutes and forced the land-based Gophers to throw the ball 39 times. Last week, PJ Fleck ran the ball 40 times in their “upset” of Michigan (Michigan may be simply bad). This week, they ran the ball 13 times and averaged 2.1 yards per carry. They couldn’t wear down Purdue’s defense because Purdue’s offense was too busy wearing down their defense. They couldn’t run the ball in the second half because Purdue’s offense had them chasing points instead of sitting on the lead.

Not going to lie, that felt good, really, really, really good.

1. Ryan Browne: Snaps – 67 – Comp – 14/24 – Yds – 159 – Td – 1 – Int – 0 – Rushes – 7 – Yds – 81 – Td – 1
2. Evans Chuba: Snaps – 6 – Rushes – 1 – Yds – 6

Ryan Browne: Snaps – 67 – Comp – 14/24 – Yds – 159 – Td – 1 – Int – 0 – Rushes – 7 – Yds – 81 – Td – 1

Evans Chuba: Snaps – 6 – Rushes – 1 – Yds – 6

This wasn’t Browne’s best passing game, but it was his best overall game. He kept the chains moving with 8 first-down completions, and when he wasn’t throwing for a first down, he was running for 5 first downs. This was the first time all season that you saw the entire Ryan Browne package. He had 5 designed quarterback runs and two long scrambles, including a game-high 33-yard run.

Credit to the offensive line. They gave Browne time in the pocket and let him roll out to the edge without grabbing the edge defender for an easy holding call. Even when he wasn’t scrambling, Browne showed poise in the pocket and kept his eyes downfield despite the rush. His strike to Burhenn in the back of the end zone on the scramble drill was perfectly executed.

Purdue has one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 10 on their hands. This was a masterstroke by the coaching staff: they put their faith in what they saw in practice and early in the 2025 season and gave Browne the weapons he needed to show his talent in 2026 instead of chasing a portal quarterback. The money they saved by not bringing in a quarterback helped build the rest of the roster.

1. Fame Ijeboi: Snaps – 54 – Rushes – 31 – Yds – 195 (6.3 YPC) – Tds – 3 – Rec – 2 – Yds – -4

2. Antonio Harris: Snaps – 10 – Rushes – 8 – Yds – 23 (2.9 YPC)

3. Jerrick Gibson: Snaps – 3 – No Stats

Fame Ijeboi: Snaps – 54 – Rushes – 31 – Yds – 195 (6.3 YPC) – Tds – 3 – Rec – 2 – Yds – -4

Antonio Harris: Snaps – 10 – Rushes – 8 – Yds – 23 (2.9 YPC)

Jerrick Gibson: Snaps – 3 – No Stats

I haven’t seen a back run that angry in a Purdue uniform since Mike Alstott was the entire Boilermaker offense. I would say he was extra motivated to play against his former team, but he’s been running like this all season. PFF (Pro Football Focus) credited him with 126 yards after contact and an absurd 18 forced missed tackles. He had 6 runs of 10+ yards, 4 runs of 15+ yards, and picked up 10 first downs.

There are too many plays to mention where it looked like the defense had him dead to rights, only for Fame to bounce off a would-be tackler and accelerate into open space. He wasn’t just running hard; he was running with a purpose. He did an excellent job of mixing his ability to break tackles with his speed and acceleration. When he made it to the second level, he was looking to take it the distance instead of looking for someone else to run over, which must be tempting when safeties bounce off you like you’re covered in flubber.

Minnesota wanted to control the game on the ground, but instead, their former back controlled it for Purdue. The player PJ Fleck went with instead of Fame was shut down by the resurgent Boilermaker defense.

Don’t look now, but Barry Odom and Josh Henson may have one of the top 2 or 3 backfields in the entire Big 10, which also puts them pretty high in national rankings. Several teams that lapped Purdue in spending would gladly trade for Browne and Fame right now.

That’s getting some real bang for your buck. If I were a prominent Purdue donor- and I can assure you, there is nothing prominent about me- but if I were, I’d be more than pleased with the return Coach Odom and Brandon Lee are getting from my investment and would be excited to give them significantly more money this offseason based on the current results.

Chauncey Magwood: Snaps – 61 – Targets – 5 – Rec – 3 – Yds – 29

Xavier Townsend: Snaps – 42 – Targets – 4 – Rec – 1 – Yds – 8

De’Nylon Morrissette: Snaps – 41 – Targets – 2 – Rec – 2 – Yds – 51

Assad Waseem: Snaps – 39 – Targets – 3 – Rec – 2 – Yds – 19

Tra’Mar Harris: Snaps – 20 – Targets – 2 – Rec – 2 – Yds – 34

Jesses Watson: Snaps – 8 – No Stats

Jaylan Hornsby: Snaps – 7 – No Stats

Bisi Owens: Snaps – 6 – No Stats

If you run it 47 times, there won’t be many opportunities to catch the ball. De’Nylon Morrissette didn’t start, but his 30-yard reception on the opening drive helped set the tone. Ryan Browne may have completed only 14 passes, but 9 of those completions either went for first downs or touchdowns. The receivers did a great job of getting separation and had a clean sheet in the drops department.

Sophomore Tra’Mar Harris has stepped up and clearly established himself as the 5th receiver in the rotation. He always seems to catch Ryan Browne’s eye when he’s in the game. That’s good for 2026, and even better for 2027 (with the usual portal caveats, of course).

An underappreciated part of this unit’s performance was their run blocking. The Gophers played a lot of man coverage, and the receivers did a great job turning into downfield blockers on Ryan and Fame’s big runs. One reason why Magwood and Morrissette get consistent snaps is their downfield blocking paired with their ability to catch the ball.

This group didn’t put up big numbers on Saturday night, but they did what they needed to do when they needed to do it. You can’t ask for much more.

1. George Burhenn: Snaps – 37 – Targets – 3 – Rec – 2 – Yds – 22 – Td – 1

2. Jackson Berryman: Snaps – 17 – No Stats

3. Cooper McCutchan: Snaps – 12 – No Stats

4. Jordan Cree: Snaps – 4 – No Stats

5. Ethan Trent: Snaps – 4 – No Stats

George Burhenn: Snaps – 37 – Targets – 3 – Rec – 2 – Yds – 22 – Td – 1

Jackson Berryman: Snaps – 17 – No Stats

Cooper McCutchan: Snaps – 12 – No Stats

Jordan Cree: Snaps – 4 – No Stats

Ethan Trent: Snaps – 4 – No Stats

Dare I ask it? Is George Burhenn back to 100%? Purdue’s oft-injured tight end put in a normal shift at tight end for the first time this season. He opened Purdue’s touchdown account by working himself open in the end zone while Browne scrambled. His second reception didn’t go for a touchdown, but it did go for a first down and extend a drive.

Burhenn is expected to have an efficient receiving day when he’s healthy. What I liked most about his performance was his blocking. He served as the backside puller on several of Purdue’s gap-scheme runs and often helped on the edge by chipping star Gopher pass rusher Anthony Smith. This was the first time in a long time that he was fully integrated into the offense and not just used as a designated receiver.

Offensive coordinator Josh Henson’s solution to Purdue’s short-yardage woes is to bring in as many tight ends as possible, including reserve right guard Ethen Trent, and hope Fame can find enough space to either outrun the defense to the edge or blast forward for the last few yards. The Boilermakers were good on offense everywhere except the final 10 yards; Fame plus a bevy of tight ends might be a workable solution. It was Saturday night.

Purdue’s offensive line dominated the second half. Fame found holes both inside and outside, and when none were available, he created his own. Purdue had 305 total rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns against a supposedly stout Minnesota defense that shut down Michigan’s running game last week. The Wolverines averaged 2.8 yards per carry, while the Boilermakers averaged 6.5 yards per carry. That’s pretty impressive considering the pedigree, or in Purdue’s case, lack of pedigree, of the two offensive lines.

Odom has repeatedly claimed that offensive line coach Zach Crabtree is one of the best in the business, if not the best. I wish he would stop saying that because every time he does, Coach Crabtree’s value goes up another 100,000 dollars. His offensive line was missing veteran starters at offensive tackle, with Tanona’s status still up in the air and Jude McCoskey working back from an injury in the Illinois game. Purdue’s starting left tackle, Nuku Mafi, was penciled in at guard before Tanona’s injury in camp, and Rico Schrieber is a true freshman.

The Boilermaker offensive line didn’t give up a sack; in fact, they didn’t even give up a hit on Browne. PFF credited the Gopher defense with 5 quarterback pressures all game. Last week against Michigan, Minnesota’s defensive line was credited with 13 total pressures, including 4 sacks and 3 QB hits. Once again, Purdue appears to be receiving an incredible return on their offensive line investment this offseason.

Purdue’s offensive line not only opened holes in the run game while keeping Ryan Browne’s jersey clean, but they did so while being flagged for only one penalty. A Banuelos false start on a first-and-10 in the first quarter was the only blemish on their report card.

I don’t think you can ask for much more from this group. This is the type of offensive line performance that wins Big 10 football games.