2017 B1G Previews: Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue Boilermakers (West Division)

Location: West Lafayette, IN

Stadium: Ross Ade Stadium (57,236)

Coach: Jeff Brohm (1^st year): 30-10 

2016 Purdue Boilermakers (3-9)(1-8)                       2017 Purdue Boilermakers

45        Eastern Kentucky        24                                S2        Louisville (Indianapolis)

20        Cincinnati                    38                                S8        Ohio University (Friday Night)           

24        Nevada                        14                                S16      at Missouri

  7        at Maryland                50                                S23      Michigan

34        at Illinois                     31 (OT)                       S30      idle

35        Iowa                            49                                O7       Minnesota

14        at Nebraska                 27                                O14     at Wisconsin

24        Penn State                   62                                O21     at Rutgers

31        at Minnesota               44                                O28     Nebraska

17        Northwestern              45                                N4        Illinois

20        Wisconsin                    49                                N11      at Northwestern

24        at Indiana                    26                                N18      at Iowa

                                                                                    N25      Indiana

Purdue is hoping new coach Jeff Brohm will bring a much-needed change to a program that has won just three B1G games in the last four seasons, which led to Coach Darrell Hazel’s dismissal midway through the 2016 campaign.  Purdue was 9-39 over those last four years.  Brohm wasted no time in bringing in Tony Devine, a former head coach at Houston, as his offensive coordinator and he brought defensive coordinator Nick Holt with him from Western Kentucky.

Purdue returns an experienced quarterback in junior David Blough, who led the conference with 279.3 passing yards per game and 25 touchdowns, but he also tossed 21 interceptions.  Brohm, a former quarterback, put in a lot of time in the spring working with Blough with his throwing motion and footwork during the spring and if Brohm can improve in those areas, Purdue can be competitive.  The problem is, he’ll be dealing with a lack of depth at receiver and the offensive line.  The leading returning receiver is senior Gregory Phillips, who hauled in 17 receptions for 172 yards, while classmate Anthony Mahoungou was just behind, with 13 receptions for 99 yards.  Coach Brohm is hoping Phillips develop into a deep threat and Mahoungou into the third-down possession receiver.  Also hoping to make an impact is sophomore Terrance Landers, who caught three passes for 16 yards in back-up duty last year.  At least in the beginning, Coach Brohm and Blough will rely heavily on junior TE Cole Herdman, their leading returning receiver.  One of the better TEs in the conference, Herdman caught 35 passes a year ago for 344 yards and three touchdowns.  The offensive line returns three players with at least some experience in senior LT Jalen Neal, junior center Kirk Barron, and junior RG Bearooz Yacoobi.  Sophomores LG Michael Mendez and RT Matt McCann looked promising in spring drills and figure to get the starting nod at those positions.  The good news for this unit is the return of junior RB Markell Jones, a compact back with a burst of speed and he’ll be looking to improve the 4.0 yards per carry and 616 yards he gained a year ago.

                                            RB Markell Jones

Issues still linger for a defensive unit that gave up 38.2 points per game.  DC Holt’s first task is to develop a 4-3 defense and that starts up front with senior DE Gelen Robinson, with 61 tackles to go along with eight TFLs, five sacks, and an interception.  He is joined by classmate Austin Larkin at the other DE spot, who will finally start full time after 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.  Junior Eddy Wilson and sophomore Lorenzo Neal figure to get the starting nod in the interior of Purdue’s defensive line. Wilson got his starting experience in the latter part of the season and came through with 36 stops, six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks and also recovering a fumble.  Neal was also a part-time starter a year ago and managed 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack.  Leading tackler sophomore Markus Bailey is back at MLB after coming just short of 100 tackles (97) as a true freshman in 2016.  This went along with six tackles for loss and four interceptions. Bailey is joined by seniors Danny Ezechukwu (52 tackles) and Ja’Whaun Bentley (50 tackles).  Bentley also had seven tackles for loss.  The secondary is led by senior SS C.J. Parker.  He and sophomore FS Navon Mosely were the most productive last year in a very young defensive backfield.  Parker had 35 tackles, three tackles for loss and a pick, while Mosley did even better, with 49 tackles, defending on the deep routes.  Senior Da’Wan Hunte and junior T.J. Jallow appear to be the front-runners to start at the corners.  Hunt came through with 47 tackles.  Jallow transferred to Purdue from East Mississippi Junior College and he will be counted on from the get-go to contribute right away.  

                                            LB Markus Bailey

The Boilers welcome back both of their specialists.  Sophomore kicker J.D. Dellinger hit on 10 of his 14 field goal attempts with a long of 42.  Junior punter Joe Schopper averaged 40.7 yards per punt on his 56 punts.  

The Boilers have a tough task right from the start as Louisville and last year’s Heisman winner Lamar Jackson visit for the first game and they open conference play against Michigan.  The back half of the schedule is somewhat better; they get Illinois and Indiana at home.  Progress in Brohm’s first year could mean winning more than three games this year.

PREDICTION: 3-9 (2-7) 7^th in B1G West