Purdue football coach claims transfer departure didn't follow protocol
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WEST LAFAYETTE ― Just when Purdue football thought it was putting the final touches on its 2026 roster, it had to pivot.
Spencer Porath surprised the Boilermakers when he announced on Jan. 13 that he'd be joining the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Student-athletes seeking transfer opportunities are required to inform their school's compliance office of intent to enter the transfer portal.
"He never entered the portal here," Purdue coach Barry Odom said. "It's amazing how that works."
Coaches nationwide continue to deal with roster uncertainty and what, if anything, a contract actually means in the current college football landscape.
Porath struggled in 2024 as a freshman, but had a breakthrough sophomore season, setting a Purdue single season record for field goal percentage (88.2), making 15 of 17 attempts. He was perhaps the biggest retention piece to Purdue's roster moving forward.
Until he wasn't.
It left Purdue in need of a placekicker, which it will fill on Feb. 4 when Upper St. Clair (Pennsylvania) high school senior Jacobo Echeverria Lozano is expected to sign with the Boilermakers as their lone late signing period addition, thus finalizing its roster.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Barry Odom says transfer didn't enter portal before signing with ND
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