Boilermakers Country

Purdue Football Among 7 Finalists to Land Skilled 2026 Linebacker

Purdue is one of seven teams in the running to land Jacob Savage, a three-star linebacker out of Kentucky in the 2026 recruiting class.
Dustin Schutte|
Ryle's Jacob Savage (21) celebrates after scoring a touchdown
Ryle's Jacob Savage (21) celebrates after scoring a touchdown | Katie Stratman for The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Purdue Boilermakers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — One of the top players out of the state of Kentucky in the 2026 recruiting class is considering Purdue as a destination. Jacob Savage, a three-star prospect, included the Boilermakers among the seven finalists for his commitment.

Savage posted a list of his top-seven teams as his recruitment continues, most of which are Big Ten programs. He's considered Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan State, Minnesota, Georgia Tech and Louisville, along with Purdue.

Per 247Sports, Savage is listed as a 6-foot-1, 219-pound linebacker out of Union, Ky. He attends Ryle High School, where he plays on both sides of the football.

Below is a link to Savage's highlights at the high school level.

Purdue currently has just one player committed in the 2026 class — Rico Schrieber, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive lineman out of Chicago. He became the first player to pledge, making his announcement back in early February.

The 2026 recruiting class will be the first full class under new coach Barry Odom and his staff.

Related stories on Purdue football

BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS SET: The Big Ten is heading to Las Vegas this summer for the annual Big Ten Football Media Days. The three-day event will be held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. CLICK HERE

ODOM WANTS TO PLAY AGGRESSIVE: When talking about the offensive and defensive style that Purdue will play this coming season, the one word coach Barry Odom kept using was "aggressive." CLICK HERE

PURDUE'S QB SITUATION: New Purdue football coach Barry Odom expects to have "great competition" at the quarterback position during spring football. CLICK HERE

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Dustin Schutte
DUSTIN SCHUTTE

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.

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