Purdue Boilermakers 2017 Football Preview

In four years under Darrell Hazell’s, Purdue only won four conference games, including one that will forever live in infamy. But a blowout loss to Iowa last October was the final straw; Hazell was fired at midseason and the Boilermakers finished the season 3-9. Enter Jeff Brohm, who went 30-10 the last three seasons at Western Kentucky, building on the foundation that Willie Taggart (2010-2012) and Bobby Petrino (2013) put in place.

Brohm has a legacy of developing quarterbacks who put up huge numbers through the air; at Western Kentucky, they each put up over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns all three seasons. Junior David Blough (6’1” 200 lbs.) could be next. He threw for 3,352 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. The big issue is cutting down on interceptions; he threw 21 last season. That’s not expecting too much, as last season, Brohm tutored transfer Mike White from a 52% passer with 16 interceptions at South Florida into a second-team all-Conference USA quarterback with seven interceptions last season. That long touchdown run of Blough’s against the Huskers in 2015 continues to be the exception; last season, he netted just 13 yards rushing for the season after subtracting sacks. Blough will be backed up by sophomore Elijah Sindelar (6’4” 206 lbs) who completed 14 of 32 passes last season for 165 yards in five relief outings.

The big concern in the Boilermakers’ passing attack this season is the lack of experience with the wide receivers; last year’s top four wideouts are gone, leaving just junior tight end Cole Herdman (6’4” 245 lbs.) as a returning starter. Herdman caught 35 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns last season. Senior Gregory Phillips (6’0” 200 lbs.) is the leading returning receiver with 17 catches for 183 yards last season. Notre Dame graduate transfer Corey Holmes (6’1” 190 lbs.) arrives this spring to help provide some depth.

With so many questions with the receivers, Purdue will surely depend even more on their running backs. But since Brohm isn’t going to change who he is, it’ll be both through the air and on the ground. Junior Markell Jones (5’11” 205 lbs.) was the leading rusher last year with 616 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also the second leading returning receiver from last season, catching 32 passes for 215 yards. Sophomore Brian Lankford-Johnson (6’0” 195 lbs.) impressed in his one start last season against Illinois, but didn’t play much after that. He rushed for 314 yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly, averaged 6.5 yards per carry. Junior D.J. Knox (5’7” 206 lbs.) missed last season after tearing his ACL in the spring; he rushed for 409 yards in 2015.