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The NCAA announced they are moving forward with a rule change that eliminates redshirts and allows five seasons of eligibility as long as you are enrolled by the time you’re 19. This, in part, was a reaction to the influx of European professionals into college basketball last season. It also clears up the eligibility issues regarding junior college recruits after Diego Pavia received an additional year of eligibility through a court injunction. In theory, these new rules will take effect for any player who enrolls on or after January 1, 2027, while players who enroll before next year will get whichever set of rules is most beneficial for them.
To boil that down to its essence, athletes who played as “true freshmen” under the old system will get an extra year of eligibility, and JuCo players who spend 2 years in JuCo get 3 seasons of eligibility instead of 3 seasons to play 2.
You can read the press release from the NCAA here.
Interior Offensive Line
Eligibility Changes
Mason Vicari received an additional season of eligibility after playing in every game as a true freshman at UNLV.
Thoughts
I like Purdue’s interior offensive line more than its tackles coming into fall camp. While the tackle spot does have significantly more depth than the previous season (it would be hard not to), Tanona’s offseason shoulder surgery is worrying. Shoulders tend to be tricky to fix, and recovery times vary. I have no inside information on this, but I’ll be happy to hear that he’s 100% at the start of fall camp.
While the interior of the offensive line was a complete gut job, I like that offensive coordinator Josh Henson and new offensive line coach Zach Crabtree were able to bring in a couple of guys they both recruited and coached at USC. Banuelos will be in contention for a starting spot after making 5 starts for the Trojans last season (3 at LG and 2 at RG). The same goes for Saina, who was a 4* recruit coming out of high school, but dealt with injuries the previous two seasons at USC. Saina is the most versatile lineman on the team, and it seems like his role might be as a utility 6th offensive lineman who can fill in at all 3 positions. That said, if he’s one of the best five at any position, he’ll start. Guard gives him his best shot to do that.
A couple of highly touted 2025 transfer portal players are also looking to make their mark on the program after not cracking the rotation last season. Georgia transfer Marques Easley lined up with the first unit in spring camp and has the inside track at left guard. The former 4* recruit has had, shall we say, a tumultuous start to his college football career after exiting Georgia after getting suspended for driving like an idiot and then getting tossed from the Indiana game in his first on-field appearance for the Boilermakers. Let’s hope his decision-making and self-control have grown over the summer, because he’s dripping with potential. He’s got NFL size at 6’6”, 320, and has the athletic ability to pull from his guard position and lead a running back through the hole. Fellow SEC transfer Marc Nave Jr. is another transfer from 2025 who is looking to shake off some rust and make an impact in his second season in the program. Purdue lists him at 6’4”, 355 pounds, which sounds good, but makes me a little nervous about his conditioning level. Like Easley, Nave Jr. has talent to burn. He was originally committed to Ohio State before flipping to Kentucky for a reason, but he’s another player who has been banged up more than he’s been healthy. If he’s right, at minimum, he should be a situational player in short yardage. If he can get his weight down and stay healthy, he’ll do more than that.
Max Parrot and Mason Vicari seem to have settled into roles on special teams; maybe that’s their ceiling, I’m not sure. If nothing else, they’ve both been around college football for a couple of years and should be able to fill in if they are called upon. Ethan Trent started 5 games last season but lost his job to Hank Purvis midway through the season. He’s another guy that’s nice to have on the bench but might not be starting caliber in the Big 10 (I’d be happy to have the previous sentence shoved back in my face after Ethan ends up first-team All-Big 10.)
James Williams Jr. and Brock Brownfield won’t see the field in 2026 unless something terrible happens to Purdue’s offensive line, but both in-state products have solid developmental traits. The best way to put together an offensive line is to develop your own players. Continuity is crucial on the offensive line, and the sooner Purdue can start growing their own linemen, the better.
Hold up, I got so wrapped up in talking about guards that I almost finished up this article without mentioning center Boaz Stanley. Boaz is from down here in my neck of the woods, and after spending a season at South Carolina (boooo), he decided to seek greener pastures in West Lafayette. Before his brief stop in Columbia, Stanley played center at Troy, where he started 12 games in 2024. That was supposed to be the plan at South Carolina but he struggled with penalties. He made 8 starts at center for the Gamecocks and one at right guard. He’s going to be the man for the Boilermakers in 2026. A couple of the guards can play center, but Stanley is a center who can play guard. Purdue needs him to play like he did at Troy in 2024 and remain healthy. The best-case scenario is Stanley leading Purdue in offensive snaps in 2026.
Purdue’s going to be bigger and more physical on the offensive line this season. Unlike last season, there is enough talent to have a legit competition in fall camp. I don’t think either guard position is spoken for at the moment, but that’s not for lack of options. I’m not sure Purdue puts a good offensive line on the field in 2026. I think it will be much improved, but good…that’s pushing it with the number of transfers on the roster. Look out, though, if Crabtree can get a break in some of these talented guys in 2026, things could shape up nicely for the Boilermakers in 2027.
