WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football held its Spring Showcase on Saturday afternoon in the first opportunity to play in front of fans under head coach Barry Odom.
As the spring season came to an end on Saturday, Odom expressed his pleasure with the progress made and what the next several months ahead of fall camp look like.
"You look at where we started in January to where we are today, we've made a lot of progress," said Odom. "We understand that it's a sprint with no finish line. We know how important the rest of April and May is to get ready for summer ball and June and July to get ready for fall camp. We have a good plan on what [those months] look like for our players."
He made sure to specifically shout out the progress made in the trenches when asked about position groups he has been pleased with throughout the spring.
"On the offensive line, we've moved seven guys in there rotationally," said Odom. "I've been excited about their progress. On the defensive line, from where we started to where we are today, they've done a really nice job."
One of the standouts on the offensive line, Ethan Trent, was officially placed on scholarship in a surprise announcement to the team at Thursday's practice. His hard work and dedication to the program was apparent to Odom from day one.
"It's amazing what he's done," said Odom. "His ability to go to work every single day and set the standard on what it looks like… The first meeting I had with him in December he said 'Coach, I just want an opportunity' and I said he'll be given every opportunity in the world to go prove it, and he's done it every single day."
Trent has now worked his way from walk-on to scholarship and was a key piece to Purdue's interior of the offensive line throughout spring ball.
"I try to always do the right thing at the right time," said Trent. "Whether that be in the weight room or on the field, it's about hard work. That's how I was raised, and I'm super blessed to be able to put in the work and see it reap the rewards."
One of Odom's defensive players that followed him from UNLV, linebacker Mani Powell, was a constant leader for the defense throughout the spring.
"The energy, enthusiasm and trust we have in our coaches is important," said Powell. "As long as we continue to focus on those areas, we'll always continue to get better with each other."
As the Boilermakers continue to progress forward under Odom, he reiterates the importance building of a winning program.
"Nobody is interested in anything other than a winning football team," said Odom. "Every move we make is going to put us in position to go win this year. That's the standard and the expectation."
Purdue now looks to take the momentum built during spring ball into the program's summer workouts ahead of fall camp.
As the spring season came to an end on Saturday, Odom expressed his pleasure with the progress made and what the next several months ahead of fall camp look like.
"You look at where we started in January to where we are today, we've made a lot of progress," said Odom. "We understand that it's a sprint with no finish line. We know how important the rest of April and May is to get ready for summer ball and June and July to get ready for fall camp. We have a good plan on what [those months] look like for our players."
He made sure to specifically shout out the progress made in the trenches when asked about position groups he has been pleased with throughout the spring.
"On the offensive line, we've moved seven guys in there rotationally," said Odom. "I've been excited about their progress. On the defensive line, from where we started to where we are today, they've done a really nice job."
One of the standouts on the offensive line, Ethan Trent, was officially placed on scholarship in a surprise announcement to the team at Thursday's practice. His hard work and dedication to the program was apparent to Odom from day one.
"It's amazing what he's done," said Odom. "His ability to go to work every single day and set the standard on what it looks like… The first meeting I had with him in December he said 'Coach, I just want an opportunity' and I said he'll be given every opportunity in the world to go prove it, and he's done it every single day."
Trent has now worked his way from walk-on to scholarship and was a key piece to Purdue's interior of the offensive line throughout spring ball.
"I try to always do the right thing at the right time," said Trent. "Whether that be in the weight room or on the field, it's about hard work. That's how I was raised, and I'm super blessed to be able to put in the work and see it reap the rewards."
One of Odom's defensive players that followed him from UNLV, linebacker Mani Powell, was a constant leader for the defense throughout the spring.
"The energy, enthusiasm and trust we have in our coaches is important," said Powell. "As long as we continue to focus on those areas, we'll always continue to get better with each other."
As the Boilermakers continue to progress forward under Odom, he reiterates the importance building of a winning program.
"Nobody is interested in anything other than a winning football team," said Odom. "Every move we make is going to put us in position to go win this year. That's the standard and the expectation."
Purdue now looks to take the momentum built during spring ball into the program's summer workouts ahead of fall camp.