Offensive Players to Watch
Junior quarterback David Blough: Listed at 6-foot-1, the Texas native is enjoying his best season as a Boilermaker. He has a whopping 76.1 percent completion percentage (51-for-67) and has thrown for 597 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions, which both came in the season opener against Louisville. He can be turnover prone, he threw 21 picks last season, especially if Michigan is able to get pressure and make him panic in the pocket.
Sophomore running back Tario Fuller: Fuller has been a big strength for Purdue this season running the ball. The 6-foot, 190-pound back has carried the ball 43 times for 261 and two touchdowns this season. He’s also caught five passes for 37 yards. Against Missouri, he had 19 carries for 90 yards and a score.
Junior tight end Cole Herdman: Purdue is loaded at tight end. Herdman is the best one the bunch, although sophomore Brycen Hopkins is right there behind him (and actually has more receptions this season). Herdman is Purdue’s leading receiver if you measure by yards, and has seven catches for 200 yards and a score. While not a big volume receiver, he is the team’s best deep threat.
Defensive Players to Watch:
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Markus Bailey: The Columbus, Ohio native led Purdue in tackles as a freshman and is back for more. He had an interception last week and has 15 tackles so far this year. The linebacker group is Purdue’s strength on defense.
Senior linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley: Another member of the linebacker squad, Bentley currently leads Purdue in tackles with 24. He had 10 tackles in the opener against Louisville and has pass breakups in each of the past two games. Purdue will likely be without third linebacker T.J. McCollum, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Junior safety Jacob Thieneman: The leader of a young secondary, Thieneman is second on the team in tackles this season with 20. He’s a more than capable run defender and will be key in Purdue’s efforts to slow down Michigan’s deep ball attempts.
Special Teams Player to Watch:
Junior punter Joe Schopper: After getting a lot of practice in the past couple seasons, Schopper is second in the Big Ten and fourth nationally so far in average punt at 48.8 yards on 12 kicks. The Indianapolis native has a long of 63 yards this year. He averaged 40.7 and 40.2 yards per punt in each of the last two seasons.
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