Purdue Football: New Faces to Know – Bisi Owens
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— Bisi Owens (@BisiOwens) January 12, 2026
Bio
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 215
Hometown: Cooksville, Maryland
High School: Glenelg High School (Glenelg, Maryland)
Recruiting Class: 2022
Former Team: Penn
Eligibility Remaining: 1 Season – Redshirt Senior
High School Recruiting Rankings: Unrated / Unranked
Transfer Portal Rankings: 3*(86.5) – National Rank: 789 – Wide Receiver: 114
High School
- Played both quarterback (in a run centric offense) and defensive back in high school.
- Senior Stats – Offense: 222 Carries, 1842 Yards, 30 Touchdowns
- Senior Stats – Defense: 51 Tackles, 4 interceptions
- Howard County Offensive Player of the Year
- Baltimore Sun First Team All-Metro
- Also played basketball and competed in track
- Senior Basketball Stats: 22 points and 8 rebounds
- Named player of the year in Howard County
- Maryland State Champion in the Triple Jump
High School Highlights
View LinkView LinkCollege Career
2022 – Penn
Redshirt
2023 – Penn
- Appeared in 10 games, including 6 starts
- Stats: Receptions: 37 – Yards: 430 – Touchdowns: 1
2024 – Penn
- Started 10 games
- Stats: Receptions: 35 – Yards: 538 – Touchdowns: 5
2025 – Penn
- Started 10 games
- Stats: Receptions: 66 – Yards: 696 – Touchdowns: 5
- First Team All-Ivy League
2026 Season Outlook – Purdue
Potential Starter / Definite Contributor
College Highlights
Thoughts
If things play out like I expect them to, Bisi should lead Purdue in receptions this season. I don’t think he’ll place very high on the yards/reception metric, but he’s the type of receiver Purdue desperately missed last season. He’s a big-bodied, sure-handed receiver who is going to be where he’s supposed to be, when he’s supposed to be there, and is strong enough to fight through tackles and pick up extra yards and first downs. He can play outside, or you can move him into the slot and try to get him matched up on a smaller slot corner. Once he gets a corner on his back, it’s all over. He uses his basketball skills to box him out, and it’s either going to be a reception or pass interference.
This, of course, is contingent on his Ivy League skill set translating to Big 10 football. I’m optimistic, but in the spirit of full disclosure, I’m always optimistic. My hopes are pinned on the fact that he appears to be a legit Big 10-caliber athlete. His high school resume is impressive to say the least. I don’t anticipate him being a downfield threat, but he can go up and win a contested jump ball if he’s left on an island with a smaller corner. He should also be a reliable redzone target. These are all skills Purdue’s receiving room lacked last season.
In terms of the absolute best-case scenario, former First Team All-Big 10 Boilermaker wide receiver Keith Smith comes to mind. Smith used his 6’2”, 226-pound frame to lead the Big 10 receptions/game in 2009 as Joey Elliott’s safety blanket. Ryan Browne didn’t have one of those last season. If Owens can play that role in 2026, I expect Browne to be significantly improved. Just the knowledge that if he puts the ball on Owens, it’s going to be a catch should be comforting after all the drops in 2025.
Owens was finishing up his degree at Penn this spring, will join the Boilermakers for summer workouts, and should be ready to make his move in fall camp. He has 1 season to prove he belongs at this level, and that starts with winning a starting job this fall. He’s plenty capable of pulling that off.