Key Quotes From Purdue's Fifth Practice of Fall Camp
In this story:
Purdue's fifth practice of fall camp is in the books, and the team is getting closer to its first scrimmage in August. On Tuesday, defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator Charles Clark spoke to reporters about the progress at the position.
The secondary had several holes during the 2025 season, resulting in the Big Ten's worst pass defense, allowing 241.7 yards per game through the air.
Immediately after the season concluded, Purdue attacked the transfer portal hard to bring in talent, length and experience. The Boilermakers added Jade Mangham (Michigan), John Slaughter, Mister Clark (FIU), Justin Denson Jr. (Michigan State), Don Saunders (Utah) and John Slaughter (Colorado) to the roster. It's a significant upgrade for the Boilers, who need to perform at a much higher level against the pass in 2026.
How are things going in the secondary early on in fall camp? Here are some of the key quotes from Clark from his media availability on Tuesday.
Adding experience and length to the secondary was important
Highlighting players in the transfer portal with prior college experience was an important attribute for Purdue during the offseason. Head coach Barry Odom didn't just want to bring in players with high recruiting rankings; he wanted to add guys who produced.
Because of the defense Purdue intends to play this season, it was imperative that the Boilers add playmakers to the roster. Clark believes they brought in a group of guys who fit that mold.
"Yeah, adding guys with experience, and then also adding guys who fit what we do," he said. "We'll be attacking. We'll play multiple coverages as far as style. So, guys who have played a lot, but also fit exactly what we do, not just a guy who was a name in the portal."
Equally as important was adding size to the secondary. Last year, Purdue ended the season with only four interceptions, one of the lowest totals in college football.
Some of that failure can be attributed to the lack of size, frequently losing battles with bigger and stronger receivers. Clark feels Purdue is in a much better situation heading into 2026.
"We needed more guys with length so that some of those one-on-one ball that goes up, we have a true 50/50 opportunity to make that play," he said.
The status of freshman Jett Goldsberry
One of the big recruiting wins was landing three-star defensive back Jett Goldsberry, an in-state product whose father, Jon Goldsberry, also played at Purdue. He was initially committed to play at Ole Miss, but Odom and his staff kept in close contact with the legacy athlete and eventually flipped him in early December.
Goldsberry missed spring practice, but he's been cleared for fall camp. Clark says the youngster has plenty of talent, but he's behind in reps. Right now, Purdue is trying to get him up to speed and ready for the season.
"He's cleared to go and he looks good," Clark said. "We're kind of force-feeding him reps right now, just to see where he's at because he missed the spring. I knew he had the talent in high school."
What kind of impact could the freshman make at Purdue? He could be one of the freshmen on this year's roster who jump into the rotation in the secondary and see significant snaps.
Secondary has better versatility
Having guys in the secondary who can play multiple positions is always a good thing. Purdue is in a great position in that regard, with Clark saying several guys are capable of filling multiple roles in the secondary.
That will allow the secondary to mix things up. The improved depth is also beneficial for a team that really struggled to defend the pass last season.
"What we're doing right now is cross-training guys," Clark said. "This is the first time in my career that I probably have about six or seven guys who could be starters at multiple positions. What it allows us to do is, No. 1, play multiple guys, but No. 2, build up our special teams."
Purdue's depth and versatility doesn't just allow it the opportunity to rotate several guys in throughout the game, it's an insurance policy for any potential injuries that may arise. Clark feels confident that several guys can step in and make a difference when their name gets called.
Get top Boilermakers stories, expert analysis, and can't-miss moments straight to your inbox for free by signing up for the Purdue Boilermakers on SI newsletter!
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
Follow SchutteDustin