It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t loud. But something shifted during Purdue Boilermakers’ recent summer workouts — and the ripple effect could shake up the entire starting lineup heading into the 2025-26 season.
What started as a subtle rotation tweak during position drills has now grown into what coaches are privately calling “the most unexpected move of the offseason.” A player once considered buried on the depth chart has emerged as a legitimate contender for a starting role — and the buzz around the locker room is only getting louder.
In West Lafayette, whispers about a dark horse starter are turning into something much more real. And if early signs are any indication, the Boilermakers’ lineup could look very different by opening night.
The Spark No One Saw Coming
Summer practices are often where coaching staffs evaluate chemistry, install schemes, and let new faces get reps. For most programs, it’s a period of fine-tuning. But for Purdue, this summer brought a jolt of unexpected energy — and it came from a player few had on their radar.
That player? Redshirt sophomore Tyrese Colton — a 6’6″ wing who, until now, had been little more than a depth piece on the bench.
Coming off a quiet redshirt year and limited minutes the season prior, Colton wasn’t expected to factor heavily into the rotation. But over the past three weeks, he’s not only held his own against the starters — he’s dominated stretches of scrimmage play.
“There was one practice where the gym just got real quiet,” said a team source. “It was Tyrese’s group vs. the first team, and he was just… different. Confident, aggressive, vocal. It was like watching a switch flip.”
Now, that switch might change everything.
Coaches Take Notice
Purdue’s coaching staff is notoriously methodical about handing out praise. But even the usually tight-lipped Head Coach Matt Painter has reportedly been impressed with Colton’s transformation.
“He’s competing,” one assistant coach told local reporters. “He’s in every drill to win, and the rest of the team feels that. It’s hard to ignore.”
Sources say Colton has been one of the most consistent performers during the past few closed practices — playing hard-nosed defense, knocking down open threes, and showing a level of basketball IQ that’s catching coaches off guard.
“It’s the little things,” said a member of the support staff. “Rotating correctly. Fighting through screens. Talking on defense. He’s doing all the things you want from a guy off the bench — except now it looks like he’s not content with being on the bench at all.”
Veteran Pressure & Roster Shifts
Colton’s emergence adds an intriguing wrinkle to an already competitive depth chart.
Purdue returns a veteran-laden squad, with senior leadership and high-level experience across multiple positions. But Colton’s ascension has reportedly put pressure on one or two expected starters who have coasted through early summer drills.
While no changes have been officially announced, there is now serious internal discussion about what the starting five could — and perhaps should — look like.
“You’ve got to reward performance,” said a former Boilermaker player now working in media. “If Tyrese keeps this up, you can’t ignore it. This isn’t a fluke.”
That performance has been fueled, in part, by Colton’s offseason work ethic. Multiple teammates have mentioned he was “the first in the gym” and “the last to leave” throughout the spring, often shooting late into the night or reviewing film with graduate assistants.
Now, that investment is starting to pay off — and it’s shaking things up in West Lafayette.
Locker Room Impact
Perhaps the most telling sign of Colton’s rising stock isn’t coming from the coaching staff — but from the players themselves.
One returning starter, speaking anonymously, said:
“Ty’s earned everything he’s getting right now. He didn’t pout last year. He didn’t complain. He just worked. And now it’s showing. Honestly, he’s making all of us better.”
That kind of internal respect can be the difference between a nice story and a real breakout. It’s clear that Colton’s teammates have bought in — and that only strengthens his case for major minutes this season.
What It Means Moving Forward
With official practices still a few weeks away, and the season opener looming in the fall, nothing is set in stone. But if current trends hold, Tyrese Colton could go from unknown to X-factor in a matter of months.
For a team with Final Four ambitions — and legitimate national title hopes — the emergence of a gritty, defensively disciplined, high-IQ wing could be exactly what Purdue didn’t know it needed.
And for Colton himself, the message is simple: keep going.
“I’m just trying to help the team win,” he told a local reporter last week. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
That humble attitude — paired with a fierce, newly discovered edge on the court — might be enough to rewrite Purdue’s rotation, and maybe even their ceiling.
Final Thoughts
Every offseason has its surprises. For Purdue, this summer’s surprise isn’t a flashy five-star or a headline-grabbing transfer.
It’s a quiet, relentless worker named Tyrese Colton, who’s gone from forgotten to undeniable.
And now, the rest of the country might want to take notice.
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