WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football took the field for the second time in spring ball, this time inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center, as snow covered the outdoor fields.
Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Josh Henson addressed the media Thursday, alongside tight ends George Burhenn and Christian Earls, to discuss the excitement for the new room.
"I'm excited about some of the guys in that group right now," said Henson. "They're doing a really good job, and we're seeing some flashes in the first few days of what they can become."
As for his vision for the versatile group of tight ends, Henson made it clear that the group will have to excel in all facets of the game.
"We're going to have them block, and we're going throw it to them," said coach Henson. "I'm not being coy, that's just what we're going to do. That's what we're looking for, guys that can do both."
Among the returners is Burhenn, a redshirt sophomore, who has appeared in 13 career games. He concluded the 2023 season with a start at Indiana and shined with five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown before his 2024 season was cut short to four games due to injury.
"It's all I've been hoping for this whole offseason is being healthy and being back out here," said Burhenn. "I've been trying my best to get the mental and physical state of my body right. Being hurt for a bit takes a toll on you, but I am back where I need to be to be a Big Ten tight end."
Joining Burhenn in the tight end room is Earls, a 6-foot-8 transfer from UNLV, who appeared in 20 games across two seasons with head coach Barry Odom at the helm. Earls is one of seven players on the 2025 roster to follow Odom from UNLV to Purdue.
"Coach Odom took me out of JUCO in eastern Texas to the Division I level," said Earls. "I trust Coach Odom and once I entered the portal, he hit me up and it was the perfect decision for me. I am very excited and happy to come out here and play for him again."
While the tight end group took the player's availability, Henson also discussed the training progression of the quarterback room with the media.
"Right now, you're trying to go out every day and get better at the small things. Start stacking good days on top of each other and start getting better habits, execution, technique and fundamentals. It's a daily grind of trying to get a little better."
Purdue finishes week one of spring ball practice on Saturday morning.
Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Josh Henson addressed the media Thursday, alongside tight ends George Burhenn and Christian Earls, to discuss the excitement for the new room.
"I'm excited about some of the guys in that group right now," said Henson. "They're doing a really good job, and we're seeing some flashes in the first few days of what they can become."
As for his vision for the versatile group of tight ends, Henson made it clear that the group will have to excel in all facets of the game.
"We're going to have them block, and we're going throw it to them," said coach Henson. "I'm not being coy, that's just what we're going to do. That's what we're looking for, guys that can do both."
Among the returners is Burhenn, a redshirt sophomore, who has appeared in 13 career games. He concluded the 2023 season with a start at Indiana and shined with five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown before his 2024 season was cut short to four games due to injury.
"It's all I've been hoping for this whole offseason is being healthy and being back out here," said Burhenn. "I've been trying my best to get the mental and physical state of my body right. Being hurt for a bit takes a toll on you, but I am back where I need to be to be a Big Ten tight end."
Joining Burhenn in the tight end room is Earls, a 6-foot-8 transfer from UNLV, who appeared in 20 games across two seasons with head coach Barry Odom at the helm. Earls is one of seven players on the 2025 roster to follow Odom from UNLV to Purdue.
"Coach Odom took me out of JUCO in eastern Texas to the Division I level," said Earls. "I trust Coach Odom and once I entered the portal, he hit me up and it was the perfect decision for me. I am very excited and happy to come out here and play for him again."
While the tight end group took the player's availability, Henson also discussed the training progression of the quarterback room with the media.
"Right now, you're trying to go out every day and get better at the small things. Start stacking good days on top of each other and start getting better habits, execution, technique and fundamentals. It's a daily grind of trying to get a little better."
Purdue finishes week one of spring ball practice on Saturday morning.