Purdue Football: 3 most impactful newcomers in 2023

1. Ryan Walters, Head Coach

The biggest question around hiring Ryan Walters is how much their team philosophy will change. Purdue has assumed a specific offensive identity since Joe Tiller took over the Boilermakers in 1997. They’ve been a spread, pass-first team since that time. That continued through Jeff Brohm.

The second African-American coach in school history, Walters will not move far from that identity. Hiring offensive coordinator Graham Harrell is a clear signal that the Boilermakers still want to throw the football all over the yard. Hiring Walters signals that Purdue wants to get better in the trenches and more physical on defense.

There is a world where you can play solid defense to complement a spread offense.

One of the most extraordinary things that Walters did early in his coaching tenure was given a scholarship to walk-on running back Devin Mockobee:

Walters knows the importance of forming authentic relationships with players, and gestures like that build equity with his players early.

Walters moved up the coaching ranks quickly, beginning as a student assistant at his alma mater, Colorado, in 2009. By 2018, he was a defensive coordinator under Barry Odom at Missouri. Walters understands defense and has learned under coaches like Gary Pinkell, Bob Stoops, and Bret Bielema.