Following the decision to part ways with offensive coordinator Graham Harrell after a slow start to their season where they ranked 104th nationally in scoring through four games, Purdue head coach Ryan Walters noted at his presser today that he didn't want to disrupt the on-field position coaches from their current duties.
So to fill the offensive play caller role, Walters is handing the reigns to a coach in his second year at the major college level.
Offensive analyst Jason Simmons, who joined the staff back in March after spending last season at Miami (OH) where he coached the running backs under Chuck Martin, has been named the new play caller tasked with turning around Purdue's offensive woes.
Before making the jump to college football, Simmons was an accomplished high school head coach, most recently at Indianapolis powerhouse Ben Davis HS (IN). From 2018-22, Simmons helped six players earn Division I scholarships and his teams advanced to the state semifinals three straight seasons from 2019-21.
Prior to landing the Ben Davis job, Simmons was the head coach at Noblesville HS (IN) for a few seasons.
Simmons will step into the play caller role this weekend when the Boilermakers head to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.