College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Purdue Boilermakers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Purdue Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 4-8 overall, 3-6 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Jeff Brohm, 4th year, 17-21
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 72
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 103
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 51
Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Purdue Boilermakers Offense 3 Things To Know
– The offense was just fine, but it was hammered by injuries and the inconsistencies followed. The quarterback situation never seemed quite settled with three players getting a turn, the running game didn’t exist, and losing superstar receiver Rondale Moore in the first month wasn’t a plus.
Even so, the Boilermakers led the Big Ten and was 12th in the nation in passing, averaging 310 yards per game.
It all starts finding a quarterback who can stay healthy and lock down the gig. Jack Plummer is the likely top option if he’s well past his banged up ankle, but UCLA transfer Austin Burton and junior Aidan O’Connell will get equal chances.
CFN in 60 Video: Purdue Boilermakers Preview
– The receiving corps is special. It was young each of the last two years, and it didn’t matter – it was still terrific. Losing volume-catching tight end Brycen Hopkins to the Los Angeles Rams stinks, but the wideouts should pick up the slack. Rondale Moore is expected to be back and fine, but the 114-catch playmaker of 2018 – he caught 29 passes last season before hurting his ankle – doesn’t have to do it alone.
6-2, 210-pound sophomore led the team with 86 grabs for 1,035 yards and seven scores, and sophomore Amad Anderson caught 31 passes for 343 yards and three scores. In all, the top five wideouts are back, and freshmen Maliq Carr and Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen should be in the mix early on.
And the tight ends? There’s not another Hopkins, but 6-5, 255-pound Payne Durham is coming off a four-touchdown season – on just nine catches – and will get the first look.
– The offensive line was an issue when it came to keeping defenses out of the backfield, but now it’s at least experienced. It’s a young group, but four starters are back and the depth isn’t bad. This is a true recruit-to-a-type line – you have to be able to move to block in this O.
The running backs need to be used a bit more and need more room to move. The combination of sophomore King Doerue and junior Zander Horvath are back after finishing 1-2 in rushing, respectively, but they only combined for 828 yards and seven scores. Doerue is a dangerous receiver, too, making 20 grabs with two scores.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Purdue Boilermakers Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Purdue Boilermakers Defense 3 Things To Know
– With all of the injuries and issues on offense last season, it was the time for the defense to step up and help the cause – it didn’t happen. The Boilermakers finished second-to-last in the Big Ten in total defense and allowed 31 points per game – the team went 0-6 when the D allowed 34 points or more.
While the ongoing youth movement has generally worked on the other side of the ball – head coach Jeff Brohm is upgrading the talent – it hasn’t done as much for the other side. However, most of the starting defense was made up of underclassmen – eight of the top 12 tacklers – and only a few key parts are missing.
– The linebacking corps never had Markus Bailey last year – the former star only played in four games – but that allowed others time to step in. Bailey is a Cincinnati Bengal, and leading tackler Ben Holt is gone, but Jaylan Alexander is a good-sized hitter to start with.
The pass rush should be terrific with 265-pound hybrid Derrick Barnes on one side and freshman sensation George Karlaftis on the other after the two combined for 15 sacks. The tackles have enough bulk and options to hold up around 300-pound sophomore Lawrence Johnson.
– The secondary that was hit for 244 yards per game gets in a potential superstar. UConn transfer Tyler Coyle made 261 tackles with 7.5 sacks, three interceptions and 15 broken up passes over the last three years, and now he should instantly step in and be the best player in a secondary that needs more big-play options.
Coyle can play any spot in the defensive backfield – he can work fine at corner, but he’d be a whale of a free safety in this D. Very, very young, now the secondary returns experienced with veterans in Coyle and fifth-year senior Brennan Thieneman as the anchors.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Purdue Boilermakers Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Purdue Boilermakers Players
Best Purdue Boilermakers Offensive Player
WR Rondale Moore, Soph.
One of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers and best receivers, Moore was on his way to a special season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. On the plus side, it happed before the fifth game – he was able to keep a year of eligibility, but he’s too good to stick around any longer than one more season.
Just 5-9 and 180 pounds, he’s not all that big, but he’s got warp speed, elite quickness, and the hands to catch 29 passes for 384 yards and two scores in his short service last year. He made 114 grabs for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns – with two rushing scores – as a freshman.
2. WR David Bell, Soph.
3. QB Jack Plummer, Soph.
4. RB King Doerue, Soph.
5. WR Amad Anderson, Soph.
Best Purdue Boilermakers Defensive Player
DE George Karlaftis, Soph.
Now that’s a true freshman season. Karlaftis was supposed to be good right away – he was a strong recruit – but he became even better than the team could’ve asked for.
The 6-4, 265-pounder got on the field early on, and his motor never stopped making 54 tackles with a team-high 7.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. It wasn’t just a burst, either – his production was steady throughout the season.
2. CB/S Tyler Coyle, Jr.
3. DE Derrick Barnes, Sr.
4. S Cory Trice, Soph.
5. CB Dedrick Mackey, Jr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Purdue Boilermakers Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Purdue Boilermakers Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Purdue Boilermakers Offense
As long as there’s a healthy and effective quarterback, and as long as Rondale Moore is Rondale Moore again for the receiving corps, the Boilermakers will spend more of their time traveling by air. However, there has to be something happening with the ground game.
Purdue will never be Wisconsin when it comes to grinding it out, but it didn’t even get to 1,000 yards last year – 999 isn’t 1,000 – and averaged fewer than three yards per carry.
It’s the average that matters. The total yards aren’t that big a deal if the passing game is doing its thing, but get to over four yards per carry and everything should be okay.
Biggest Key To The Purdue Boilermakers Defense
Get the (bleep) off the field already. The Boilermakers have the pass rushers, and they have the experience overall, but the defense was a disaster far too often when it came to coming up with the big stop to get the ball back to the offense.
Part of it’s a stylistic choice.
Purdue doesn’t care a lick about time of possession, which is fine when the offense is rocking and rolling. That’s bad when the defense gets gassed. Allowing teams to covert 40% of their third down chances isn’t totally miserable, but it’s not great.
For the most part, the D was able to do the job. But Penn State was able to keep things moving, and the wheels came totally off late in the season when Wisconsin and Indiana combined to convert 20-of-30 third down tries in the final two games.
In Jeff Brohm’s first two seasons, the defenses finished the seasons under the 40% mark. The year before he took over, the defense was giving up third down tries at a 49% clip.
Key Purdue Boilermakers Player To A Successful Season
QB Jack Plummer. Soph.
Someone has to take over the offense and make it his own. Injuries crushed the quarterback situation last year with three getting a shot. Elijah Sindelar got hurt, unheralded Aidan O’Connell stepped in for six games, and Plummer led the team with 1,603 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight picks before getting knocked out for the year with an ankle injury.
Plummer was a big recruit with the passing skills to put up huge numbers, but he’s going to be pushed by O’Connell and UCLA transfer Austin Burton. It’ll be an open fight for the job, but it might be Plummer’s to take.
Key Game To The Purdue Boilermakers Season
at Nebraska, Sept. 5
Purdue won the last two games against Nebraska and three of the last five. This time around, the season and Big Ten opener will be a must-win for a Husker team that desperately needs a hot start.
The last time Purdue won a season opener against an FBS team? 2014 over Western Michigan. The last time it won a season opener against a Power Five program? 2004 over Syracuse. To push this even further, the last road win over a Power Five program to start a season? 1995 over West Virginia.
This year, with a sneaky-tough run against Memphis, Air Force and at Boston College to follow, beating Nebraska would be a big help.
– Purdue Boilermakers Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Purdue Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 106 – Purdue 39
– Red Zone Scoring: Purdue 39-of-41 (95%) – Opponents 38-of-47 (81%)
– Penalties: Opponents 85 for 728 yards – Purdue 55 for 452 yards
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Purdue Boilermakers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Purdue Boilermakers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
2018 was a lost year thanks to a slew of injuries, but it’s Year Four now under Jeff Brohm. He didn’t take the Louisville gig before last year, and he’s not off to the NFL yet – this is when it’s all supposed to kick in.
He has done a fantastic job of recruiting players who fit the offensive system, and now the receiving corps is in place to be among the nation’s best as long as Rondale Moore stays healthy.
Can a quarterback emerge? Can there be any semblance of a ground game? Can all of the young talent on the defensive side emerge?
Yeah, maybe, and that’s the big question.
There are enough good quarterback options to play around with that one should rise up and be the consistent producer the O was missing last year – blame injuries on that – and the running game will be along for the ride from there.
The defense wasn’t totally miserable, but it can be stronger. As long as it doesn’t get gouged, Purdue can get back into the bowl picture.
Set The Purdue Boilermakers Regular Season Win Total At … 5.5
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 5
The good part about the schedule – there’s no Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan State. Wisconsin and Iowa have to come to West Lafayette.
The bad part about the schedule – Memphis, Air Force, and at Boston College are the three non-conference games, and none of them are layups.
Rutgers and Northwestern are home games, but can there be a big road win over a Nebraska and/or an Illinois?
Purdue has to win at least two of the three non-conference games, it has to take down Rutgers and Northwestern, and just assume there will be a Purdue going Purdue when the offense goes off for a fifth win in the mix.
With the experience returning, if everyone of note can stay healthy, this is a seven-win schedule. At the very least, go bowling or bust.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
