Purdue · Big TenPurdue's No. 2 QB Race Will Test Evans Chuba's Speed and Ball Security
Chuba has spent the offseason simplifying Purdue's offense and building more repeatable mechanics. The redshirt sophomore understands the playbook better than he did a year ago, but quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw wants that knowledge to show up faster on the field.
AUG 24, 2026
College pass attempts for Evans Chuba.
Chuba's listed height.
Year Chuba transferred to Purdue from Washington State.
01 · The NewsThe Quarterback Race
Evans Chuba is competing for Purdue's No. 2 quarterback job while trying to keep the competition from taking over his preparation. Chuba said he is focused on becoming the best player he can be rather than obsessing over the depth chart. The redshirt sophomore transferred from Washington State before the 2025 season and has yet to throw a college pass. Quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw said Chuba has a strong grasp of the offense, but still needs to play faster and take care of the football. Chuba's own description of his progress is less dramatic. He said he has learned that every snap does not need to become a touchdown. The next step is making that simpler approach hold up on the field.
02 · The StakesWhy the Job Matters
Chuba is not trying to win this job with one spectacular throw. Purdue needs to know whether he can make the correct decision quickly enough for the offense to function when the play gets crowded. Chuba said his understanding of Purdue's system has improved through daily throwing and repeated work with the offense. That knowledge matters only when it reduces hesitation before the snap and during the throw. Hinshaw's two concerns, pace and ball security, point to the same demand: Chuba must turn preparation into reliable execution. With no college pass attempts, his first meaningful test is less about résumé than whether the staff can trust his next decision.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineThe Detail Beneath the Headline
The most useful lesson Chuba received this offseason came from Drew Brees, who visited Purdue after entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Chuba said Brees' routine stood out because the former Purdue quarterback prepared at the same time and place every day. That example fits Chuba's effort to keep his preparation steady regardless of the opponent or pressure around a game. It also gives the competition a human detail beyond playbook knowledge. Chuba is building a routine before he has built a college résumé. Purdue now has to see whether that routine produces faster, safer quarterback play.
“Purdue's No. 2 competition will be decided by whether Chuba can make ordinary quarterback play dependable.”
The Wire Desk04 · The PersonnelThe Work Behind the Competition
Chuba's work has covered both his decisions and his throwing motion. At Clearwater Academy International in Florida in 2023, he studied sequencing and rotational throwing while missing the season because of an injury. This offseason, he focused on making his mechanics repeatable. He wants to stay balanced, come over the top of the football and keep his motion from getting in the way of the throw. He has also tried to strip away what he calls the offense's “eye candy,” including movement and information that can distract him from his assignment. His goal is to know where to go without the pause that comes from processing too much. Those are specific improvements. They still have to appear at practice speed.
05 · The ThesisThe Pate State Read
Purdue's No. 2 competition will be decided by whether Chuba can make ordinary quarterback play dependable. The mental progress is real. He understands the offense better, has a clearer idea of what each play requires and has built a preparation model from Brees' example. None of that guarantees the pace Hinshaw wants. A quarterback can know the assignment and still be late, or make the right read and put the ball in danger. Chuba's mechanics work may help him repeat the throw, while his simpler approach may help him get there sooner. The staff's standard is narrow and fair. Chuba must show enough speed and ball security for his knowledge to matter when the play is no longer clean.
06 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Faster decisions in practice
Chuba's progress should show up in the time between recognizing his assignment and starting the throw. A quicker release without a breakdown in his mechanics would support the growth he describes.
Ball security under pressure
Hinshaw identified protecting the football as unfinished work. Turnover-free practice periods would matter more than a single spectacular completion in this race.
Repeatable throwing motion
Chuba wants balanced feet and a consistent release. The tell will be whether his mechanics stay intact from one throw to the next instead of changing when he speeds up.