Ryan Browne, a redshirt freshman, sparked the Purdue Boilermakers’ offense when his moment came midseason. Thrust from the backup role, Browne delivered a breakout performance against Illinois, amassing 415 total yards — 297 through the air, 118 on the ground — and tossing three touchdowns in a heartbreaking 50-49 overtime loss.
But on Tuesday, Browne announced his decision to explore opportunities elsewhere. After Ryan Walters’ firing, Purdue is searching for a new head coach, and Browne posted on social media that he would enter the transfer portal.
Where Could Ryan Browne Transfer?
In just two starts, Browne offered flashes of undeniable talent. Completing 56% of his passes for 532 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, he also added 155 rushing yards — proving himself a dual-threat playmaker for the Boilermakers.
Now, with his sights set on new opportunities, Browne embarks on the next chapter of his football journey — one filled with promise, potential, and the hope of even greater achievements to come.
With his breakout performance against Illinois, Browne clearly displayed the ability to lead an offense in the Big Ten. But would another Big Ten school take a shot on Browne to be the quarterback of the future? What are his most likely landing spots?
Purdue Boilermakers
Browne may have announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal, but he didn’t rule out a possible return to West Lafayette. In his X post, Browne stated, “I look forward to seeing who Purdue hires as its next head coach and am excited to see which teams think I can help them win over the next three years.”
On the post, a Purdue football fan asked Browne if he was open to a return, to which Browne replied, “Yessir, I’m 100% open to coming back.”
The only other quarterback on the Boilermakers’ depth chart is true freshman QB Marcos Davila from Midland, TX.
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers will have a very interesting quarterback situation heading into the offseason. Cole LaCrue, a 2023 signee under Luke Fickell, faced a steep challenge to earn playing time at Wisconsin. Last week, reports surfaced that LaCrue intended to enter the transfer portal, which he confirmed with a heartfelt message to Badgers fans.
The Badgers will still have 2024 starter Braedyn Locke, but he’s lost his last five starts for Wisconsin and has battled through an up-and-down season.
Meanwhile, Tyler Van Dyke, a key portal addition last offseason, saw his season cut short by a torn ACL after just three games. The possibility of a medical redshirt looms, keeping his future in Madison alive for now.
So, where does Browne fit in?
The Badgers recruited Browne out of Milford Academy in upstate New York and made the list of his final six schools. However, it was the only school from which he had yet to receive a scholarship offer before committing to Purdue.
Wisconsin may look at Browne’s success against Illinois and Oregon as a bright spot and bring him in to compete for a starting role.
Kent State Golden Flashes
The Kent State football program is in turmoil. They’ve won one game in the last two seasons, with a combined record of 1-23 over that span.
Kent State was also a finalist in Browne’s final six schools during his recruitment process, and he did receive a scholarship offer from the Golden Flashes before his commitment to Purdue.
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Kent State quarterback Tommy Ulatowski announced on social media that he will enter the transfer portal when it opens next week, carrying with him two years of eligibility. This past season, Ulatowski threw for 1,342 yards and 15 touchdowns, a testament to his steady growth as a playmaker. Over 22 career appearances with the Golden Flashes, he amassed 2,181 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.
Browne would immediately help Kent State’s program as it looks to get back to its winning ways and compete for MAC titles.
Syracuse Orange
The Syracuse Orange had success in the portal coming into 2024, having added Kyle McCord from Ohio State and the Big Ten. A year after being overlooked, McCord delivered a season to remember, guiding Syracuse to a 9-3 record and a stunning 42-38 comeback victory over No. 6 Miami in the regular-season finale.
McCord ended the year as the nation’s passing leader with 4,326 yards and ranked fourth in touchdown passes with 29. His five games with 350+ yards and four TDs set him apart, as did his place in history — becoming the first Syracuse quarterback to surpass 4,000 yards in a season and shattering the school’s single-season touchdown record.
The Orange could return to the Big Ten through the transfer portal and try to recruit a young, dual-threat QB like Browne, who has shown flashes of brilliance. Browne’s ability, coupled with his prep year in upstate New York, could make him a fit for the Orange.
UCF Knights
Guz Malzahn recently announced that he will be leaving the UCF Knights to join Mike Norvell as the offensive coordinator at Florida State. Projecting a player’s future without a head coach is uncertain, but for UCF, the urgency is apparent. A swift hire could stabilize the program and provide the direction needed to make an immediate impact in the transfer portal.
And UCF will start with a capable QB.
UCF redshirt sophomore quarterback Jacurri Brown filled in for original starter KJ Jefferson, but Brown was benched multiple times this season for Dylan Rizk and EJ Colson. Ironically, Colson just entered the transfer portal himself, so needless to say, the Knights’ QB situation is a bit messy.
While they may target someone more experienced, Browne has shown flashes in his limited playing time at Purdue that he has the makings of a big-time quarterback. Prior to his post-grad year, Browne attended high school in Venice, and thus, he could return to the Sunshine State to lead the Knights.