Purdue football receiver's puzzling season ends with transfer portal

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WEST LAFAYETTE — One of Purdue football’s most puzzling roster developments of last season unsurprisingly seems headed for a transfer exit.

Wide receiver Arhmad Branch announced Wednesday he plans to enter his name in the NCAA transfer portal when it opens Jan. 2. The Missouri native spent three seasons with the Boilermakers.

Buzz began to build over the summer about Branch being one of Purdue’s breakout players of the offseason. He followed a solid preseason camp by opening the season in the starting lineup.

Branch went for 101 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Ball State. He caught another touchdown the next game against Southern Illinois. Then E.J. Horton Jr. started in his place against USC, and Branch’s playing time kept diminishing.

After playing only nine snaps against Northwestern and 14 against Rutgers, Branch did not play in any of the next three games despite not appearing on the injury report. He played four snaps in the finale against Indiana.

Branch finished with 212 yards and two touchdowns on 14 receptions.

“Arhmad had a rough go through the middle of the season,” offensive coordinator Josh Henson said prior to the IU game. “If you really go back and watch — just had some mistakes. We tried to give Arhmad chances to come back and correct those. We just felt some other guys were performing more consistently.

“He’s still young. We do believe in his ability. We did talk about that, and his future, and I believe in it. I do think he can be a really good player, but you’ve got to do it consistently every day in practice and on the field, and that’s what he’s learning to do. Some other guys have done it more consistently.”

Branch is the second significant offensive player to announce his intent to enter the portal. Backup quarterback Malachi Singleton announced earlier this week he will explore his transfer options.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Arhmad Branch, Purdue football receiver, to enter transfer portal

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