Being able to live out your dream is an opportunity that most people never get. But for senior Finn Goodman, that opportunity is becoming a reality. 

Goodman first stepped foot on Purdue’s campus when he was just seven years old. His mom brought him and his older brother, Brady, to watch a summer football scrimmage, and from that moment, he was hooked.

“When I first brought Finley and Brady to Purdue, I hoped at least one of them would like it. I never imagined the lifelong dedication Finley would have to the school,” Rebecca Goodman said, Finn’s mom and a Purdue alumna.

As his love for Purdue grew alongside his love for football, Goodman’s dream quickly expanded—not just to attend the school, but to play for the Purdue Boilermaker football team as well. 

He attended camps in the summer, sent out film during the fall season, and worked hard during the off-season to get noticed by the coaching staff. But in the end, the timing wasn’t quite right. 

In February 2025, Goodman committed to the University of Dayton after a great visit and an offer from their football program. 

“When I visited Dayton, I really enjoyed meeting all the players and coaching staff. I felt like it was a great fit at the time. Plus, it had a great school and campus that I enjoyed,” Goodman said. 

While he was excited to become a Flyer, the thought of playing for Purdue never left his mind. 

“I always had a feeling that I would end up at Purdue. Whether they gave me a call in the spring or I transferred after a few years, I knew I would end up there someday,” Goodman said.

A few weeks after signing with Dayton, Goodman received a call from Purdue’s defensive end coach, Jake Trump, that would change the trajectory of his college career. 

“Coach Trump gave me a call to introduce himself and get to know me. He asked a couple of questions, but it was brief. I didn’t think much of it at the time,” Goodman said.

Goodman went on with his life, still planning to attend and play at Dayton. Little did he know, Purdue continued to track him and keep a close eye on him. 

Over a month later, Coach Trump invited Goodman down for a visit.

Goodman and his parents drove down to West Lafayette for an unofficial visit that week. He attended meetings, sat in on practices, toured the facilities, and met with coaches. 

“The visit was just as I’d envisioned. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like about it. The coaches were awesome, and the environment was extremely welcoming,” Goodman said.

With recruiting rules changing, walk-on spots have become more scarce, and Purdue didn’t know if they would be able to offer Goodman a position. But a couple of days after the visit, Trump called Goodman with exciting news. 

“When he called with the opportunity, I felt extremely overjoyed. I was excited and relieved. It was a dream come true,” Goodman said. “Thoughts from when I was a 10-year-old roaming Ross Ade stadium to now—it was truly unbelievable.”

Even though he would be a preferred walk-on with no promises of playing time, the decision to decommit from Dayton and join Purdue’s Big 10 team was an easy one. 

“Purdue is the only school I have ever wanted to go to. I knew telling the Dayton coaches would be hard, but I couldn’t let this opportunity go,” Goodman said. 

The first people Goodman told were the coaches at Dayton, letting them know that he would be decommitting. After that call, he kept the circle of those he told small, sharing only with family and close friends. 

“Having been his first youth football coach, Finn has always been serious about football and has always worked hard to improve. I was very happy to see his dream of playing college football at the university that he had always dreamed of come true,” Andrew Goodman said, Finn’s father.

When Goodman finally made the news of his commitment public, he was overwhelmed with support and excitement.

“Ever since I’ve known Finn, it’s always been Purdue this, and Purdue that,” senior football teammate and childhood friend Arjan Jawanda said. “He promised me he would play for them someday, but to see it truly happen now is awesome. I’m incredibly proud of him— he’s one hell of a player.”

Another teammate and friend, senior Xander Pruim, expresses that Goodman’s relentlessness is what has brought him to this point.

“Ever since I’ve known Finn, he’s always been obsessed with Purdue. He wore their merch almost every day, and his goal since second grade was to play football as a Boilermaker. On and off the field, he worked hard in pursuit of that dream,” Pruim said. “Even when it seemed like he’d be going to Dayton, he never gave up on what he’d wanted since he was a kid. He kept reaching out to the staff, determined to achieve his childhood goal. I knew the coaches at Purdue would notice his hard work and give him his shot. I never doubted him.”

Varsity football head coach Chuck Spagnoli has been aware of how much Purdue has meant to Goodman since he first joined the LFHS football program. He says that his development from a “skinny little freshman into a confident and dominating player as a senior” has set him up for what he has accomplished.

“It’s rare for a young person to work so hard for an opportunity to achieve their dreams. I am so proud of Finn because he has earned the opportunity to achieve his goal of playing football at Purdue University.”

While hard work and dedication are what got him where he is physically, Goodman says that faith is ultimately what got him where he is today. 

“As a human, you can only do so much. You can and should train as hard as possible, but it is ultimately God’s plan that will succeed. Now I know why God put that dream in my heart. It was His plan for me,” Goodman said.

After years of early mornings, late nights, and relentless dedication on and off the field, Goodman isn’t just hoping anymore—he is on his way to living the dream.