Ryan Browne's growth as Purdue football QB among spring camp takeaways

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue football wrapped up its 15 spring practices on Saturday, April 11 with a Spring Showcase event in Ross-Ade Stadium.

With a spring transfer portal window no longer part of the picture, the Boilermakers can move forward with what they've accomplished over the last six weeks.

Purdue will add eight more players from the high school and junior college ranks in the summer.

Coaches overall were pleased with the spring performance. Offensive coordinator Josh Henson noted during an in-practice interview on Saturday only one of the 15 spring practices weren't up to par and the best practice was the one that immediately followed.

Purdue junior defensive end Trey Smith, left, and Purdue senior offensive lineman Joey Tanona run out through the tunnel at the start of the Purdue football spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Purdue football team huddles up after a scrimmage during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Ryder Smith wears his cousin's, Purdue junior linebacker Jojo Hayden's, helmet after the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue sophomore running back Fame Ijeboi runs past defenders with a football during a scrimmage at the Purdue football spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue senior offensive lineman Boaz Stanley, left, grimaces as Purdue senior defensive lineman Curt Neal grabs his jersey on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue junior running back Antonio Harris runs to a stop after a play during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue freshman wide receiver Brandon Kinsey runs past defenders on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue junior tight end Kylan Fox catches the football as Purdue senior defensive back John Slaughter reaches for his jersey on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue sophomore quarterback Evans Chuba runs with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue senior wide receiver Xavier Townsend, left, ducks past Purdue senior defensive back John Slaughter during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue senior wide receiver Xavier Townsend runs to a stop with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue junior wide receiver Corey Smith leaps for the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue sophomore defensive back Justin Denson Jr. tackles Purdue junior wide receiver Asaad Waseem as he reaches for the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue freshman running back Izaiah Wright, left, celebrates with Purdue redshirt freshman offensive lineman Sankeerth Veluri after a touchdown during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue senior offensive lineman Jude McCoskey, right, grabs Purdue junior defensive end Breeon Ishmail's jersey during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue sophomore running back Carter Holsworth falls while protecting the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue junior tight end Kylan Fox tucks to protect the ball from Purdue freshman defensive back Emoni Smith on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue sophomore defensive back Justin Denson Jr. jumps over Purdue freshman defensive back Emoni Smith while chasing Purdue junior running back Antonio Harris during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue junior wide receiver Asaad Waseem, left, and Purdue sophomore running back Fame Ijeboi celebrate during the showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue redshirt freshman quarterback Garyt Odom runs with the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue senior quarterback Bennett Meredith throws the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue junior wide receiver Corey Smith runs with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue junior wide receiver Corey Smith runs with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue quarterbacks coach, Darin Hinshaw, talks with the quarterbacks, reflected in his sunglasses, after the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue sophomore quarterback Evans Chuba throws the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue quarterbacks coach, Darin Hinshaw, reviews a play with Purdue senior quarterback Bennett Meredith on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue head coach, Barry Odom, walks across the field on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

A man walks through rows of empty seats on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue freshman defensive back Emoni Smith reaches for the ground after flying in the air during a tackle on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior defensive end Trey Smith, left, and Purdue senior offensive lineman Joey Tanona run out through the tunnel at the start of the Purdue football spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior defensive end Trey Smith, left, and Purdue senior offensive lineman Joey Tanona run out through the tunnel at the start of the Purdue football spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

The Purdue football team huddles up after a scrimmage during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Ryder Smith wears his cousin's, Purdue junior linebacker Jojo Hayden's, helmet after the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue sophomore running back Fame Ijeboi runs past defenders with a football during a scrimmage at the Purdue football spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue senior offensive lineman Boaz Stanley, left, grimaces as Purdue senior defensive lineman Curt Neal grabs his jersey on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior running back Antonio Harris runs to a stop after a play during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue freshman wide receiver Brandon Kinsey runs past defenders on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior tight end Kylan Fox catches the football as Purdue senior defensive back John Slaughter reaches for his jersey on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue sophomore quarterback Evans Chuba runs with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue senior wide receiver Xavier Townsend, left, ducks past Purdue senior defensive back John Slaughter during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue senior wide receiver Xavier Townsend runs to a stop with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior wide receiver Corey Smith leaps for the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue sophomore defensive back Justin Denson Jr. tackles Purdue junior wide receiver Asaad Waseem as he reaches for the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue freshman running back Izaiah Wright, left, celebrates with Purdue redshirt freshman offensive lineman Sankeerth Veluri after a touchdown during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue senior offensive lineman Jude McCoskey, right, grabs Purdue junior defensive end Breeon Ishmail's jersey during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue sophomore running back Carter Holsworth falls while protecting the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior tight end Kylan Fox tucks to protect the ball from Purdue freshman defensive back Emoni Smith on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue sophomore defensive back Justin Denson Jr. jumps over Purdue freshman defensive back Emoni Smith while chasing Purdue junior running back Antonio Harris during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Ryan Browne's growth as Purdue football QB among spring camp takeaways

Purdue junior wide receiver Asaad Waseem, left, and Purdue sophomore running back Fame Ijeboi celebrate during the showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue redshirt freshman quarterback Garyt Odom runs with the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue senior quarterback Bennett Meredith throws the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior wide receiver Corey Smith runs with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue junior wide receiver Corey Smith runs with the ball during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue quarterbacks coach, Darin Hinshaw, talks with the quarterbacks, reflected in his sunglasses, after the spring showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue sophomore quarterback Evans Chuba throws the ball on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue quarterbacks coach, Darin Hinshaw, reviews a play with Purdue senior quarterback Bennett Meredith on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue head coach, Barry Odom, walks across the field on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

A man walks through rows of empty seats on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Our best images from Purdue football Spring Showcase

Purdue freshman defensive back Emoni Smith reaches for the ground after flying in the air during a tackle on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue football spring takeaways

Ryan Browne's progress

Because Ryan Browne is entering his fourth season with Purdue, it's easy to forget that one year ago, he wasn't on the roster. After a spring hiatus at North Carolina, Browne went through his first spring camp with this staff.

There's no denying Browne struggled in his first season as Purdue's full-time starting quarterback. It was a season of learning, he called it.

More: Continuity aids Purdue football development, which knows what must come next

"Looking back at it, I am super grateful for it because of all the lessons it taught me," said Browne, who threw 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. "You know, you're not going to grow without playing."

A year ago, Purdue ended spring camp not knowing who its starting quarterback would be. And, as it turned out, it took Browne returning to West Lafayette before a starter was determined. There are no such questions as 2026 spring camp concluded Saturday, though Henson said a backup — likely Evans Chuba or Bennett Meredith — won't be determined until fall.

"Though Ryan was a sophomore last year, let's call a spade a spade, he really was a freshman," receivers coach Bilal Marshall said in a Feb. 12 interview. "He really didn't play as much freshman year. But you see the biggest jump, and not just how they play on the field, but how they have total command of everybody around them. And you see it now just how they're operating the day-to-day base. He's growing as a leader."

After Saturday's Spring Showcase, Odom echoed Marshall's comments.

More: Purdue football seeks improved explosiveness, physicality at wide receiver

Where has Browne improved the most?

"Consistency and the understanding of playing smart football from that position," Odom said.

Defensive line improvement leap

Kevin Kane's second venture as Purdue's defensive coordinator feels different than the first, when he was brought in under a head coach he had experience working alongside. Kane's defensive model with this unit thrives on attacking and aggressiveness, which led to far too many flags in Saturday's 11-on-11 scrimmage sessions.

Something to work on.

More: Purdue football DC has skeptics, relishes second chance to make impression

But any improvement will rely on the strides made on the defensive front. That's where Kane says Purdue has improved the most since spring camp began March 3.

"From day one, playing behind our defensive line, just their mentality is different, man," linebacker Charles Correa said. "I love playing behind those guys. Their get off to their tenacity to their physicality and their pursuit of the ball, every play is special."

New playmakers making impact

Returning skill players like DeNylon Morrissette, Chauncey Magwood and George Burhenn are expected to be assets to Purdue's offense. All are coming back from injuries and were limited throughout spring.

In the meantime, new faces showcased their value.

Purdue junior wide receiver Asaad Waseem, left, and Purdue sophomore running back Fame Ijeboi celebrate during the showcase on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Incoming transfer running back trio Fame Ijeboi, Travis Terrell Jr. and Jerrick Gibson partnered with returning Antonio Harris gives Purdue a punch in the backfield it didn't have last season. The players of the spring were new receivers: freshman Brandon Kinsey along with transfers Xavier Townsend and Asaad Waseem.

"Those guys have had a really good spring," offensive coordinator Josh Henson said of Townsend and Waseem on Saturday. "I feel really good about where they're at going into the fall. I think they're going to help us make explosive plays."

Results will ultimately define Purdue football improvement

No matter how you spin it, Purdue wasn't a good football team last fall. The Boilermakers finished 2-10 and enter next season on a 10-game losing streak, including 18 straight Big Ten losses.

"Not to revisit much of last year, but it wasn't to anybody's standard in any way," Odom said. "I've got to own that. And then, how do you fix it? That's the bottom line. You've got to fix it. Nobody cares. It's results driven."

The 2026 roster will include 53 newcomers, significantly less than the 82 from last fall's roster. Mass turnover is a part of modern-day college football, but Odom still believes Purdue's success must derive from retention and development moving forward.

"We know, in this league, every single week, there's going to be a lot of one possession games," Odom said. "Are you tough enough mentally to be able to withstand that and go win those one possession games? We weren't last year. And I've got to live with that forever. And I've got to get that fixed."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football spring practice ends with key takeaways