High School QB Shocks Fans by Choosing Purdue Over Indiana—What This Means for the Boilers’ Future

When Purdue football catches a promising prospect like Dream Rashad—even when he had a full slate of visits lined up elsewhere—you know there’s something intriguing at play. Standing a hefty 6-foot-6 and tipping the scales at 230 pounds, Rashad’s flexibility as an athlete with a quarterback’s pedigree could be a game-changer for Barry Odom’s squad. While he’s yet to be rated by recruiting sites, his Elite 11 regional invite hints at raw potential that Purdue might just mold into a multi-faceted weapon. This commitment isn’t just another name on the roster; it’s a savvy scoop in a competitive recruiting war that also brought in talents like Brandon Kinsey, Terrell Berryhill Jr., and Aiden Solecki—all key cogs in Odom’s first complete recruiting class push. With the Boilermakers climbing the rankings and sharpening their future lineup, Rashad’s decision underscores a strategic build that’s more than just luck—it’s a thoughtful chess move as Purdue looks to make serious noise in the Big Ten. LEARN MORE

The fourth commitment of the weekend for Purdue football comes from a recruit who was scheduled to be on a different program’s campus.But at his size, Barry Odom and his staff may use him elsewhere. Purdue’s 2026 recruiting class already has one quarterback committed, too, in Corin Berry.Dream Rashad, a 6-foot-6, 230-pounder from Lawrenceville Buford (Georgia), announced his commitment to the Boilermakers. Rashad is listed as an athlete by recruiting services, but he was a quarterback who listed he was an Elite 11 regional invitee for the prolific QB camp.Get IndyStar’s Purdue coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Boiler Update newsletter.It was an important weekend for Purdue’s future as Odom builds out his first full recruiting class. It also landed commitments from wide receiver Brandon Kinsey, offensive lineman Terrell Berryhill Jr. and defensive lineman Aiden Solecki.

Prior to Rashad’s commitment, the Boilermakers ranked 45th nationally and 15th in the Big Ten per On3’s industry rankings.

Rashad’s commitment is a good win for Odom and his staff. The recruit who is not yet rated by On3 visited archrival Indiana on May 29 and took an unofficial visit to Nebraska a few days later. Yet Rashad decided his future was best with the Boilermakers, though he had an official visit scheduled to South Florida on Friday.