Game Notes
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PURDUE-IOWA SERIES DATA
Purdue leads 48-38-3
Current Streak: Purdue has won the last two meetings.
In Iowa City: Iowa leads 21-20-2
First Meeting: Oct. 22, 1910 – Iowa won 16-0 in West Lafayette.
Last Meeting: Nov. 3, 2018 – Purdue won 38-36 in West Lafayette.
Noteworthy: Senior kicker Spencer Evans booted a 25-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to lead the Boilermakers to a 38-36 victory over the 19th-ranked Hawkeyes in Ross-Ade Stadium last season. Iowa was the third nationally ranked team Purdue knocked off in 2018 (also No. 23 Boston College and No. 2 Ohio State). Senior wide receiver Terry Wright caught three touchdown passes and finished the contest with six receptions for 146 yards en route to being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Evans took home B1G Special Teams Player of the Week honors ... Starting in 1961 and lasting until 1980, the Boilermakers won 20 consecutive games against the Hawkeyes, the longest winning streak by Purdue against any Big Ten team in school history.
CONFERENCE HONORS FOR PLUMMER AND BELL
Quarterback Jack Plummer was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and wide receiver David Bell the conference's Freshman of the Week after their performances against Maryland last weekend. Plummer completed 33 of 41 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns against the Terrapins, while Bell was on the receiving end of nine of Plummer's passes for 138 yards and two scores. It is the first weekly recognition in both of their careers. Purdue had a school-record 10 Big Ten weekly award winners last season. More details about Plummer's and Bell's exploits against Maryland can be found further in the notes.
STRETCHING THE FIELD
The "healthy" Boilermakers feature five different receivers averaging 10 or more yards per reception this year (the number would rise to seven when including the injured Rondale Moore and Jared Sparks).
PRECISION PASSING
Redshirt freshman Jack Plummer completed 33 of 41 passes for a school-record breaking 80.5 completion percentage on 40 or more passing attempts in a game. Curtis Painter held the previous 40-plus attempts high water mark with a 77.6 completion percentage (40 of 49) against Eastern Illinois in 2007. Plummer's effort against Maryland last Saturday was the fifth-highest completion percentage in a game at Purdue with 20 or more passes attempted.
High Completion Percentage in a Game at Purdue (min. 20 attempts)
1 Kyle Orton vs. Ball State, 9/11/2004 - 88.5 (23-26)
2 Bob Griese vs. Notre Dame, 9/25/1965 - 86.4 (19-22)
3 Drew Brees vs. Minnesota, 10/3/1998 - 86.1 (31-36)
4 Mark Herrmann vs. Indiana, 11/22/1980 - 82.6 (19-23)
5 Jack Plummer vs. Maryland, 11/12/2019 - 80.5 (33-41)
HOPPING HOPKINS
After catching just one pass for three yards in Purdue's previous two games, fifth-year tight end Brycen Hopkins took his frustrations out on Maryland with an impressive day. Hopkins hauled in 10 passes for 140 yards against the Terrapins, both career highs for the Nashville native. His reception total was the most by a Purdue tight end since Tim Stratton finished with 12 against Washington State in the 2001 Sun Bowl and his yardage total the most by a Boilermaker at his position since Dustin Keller had 150 vs. Central Michigan in the 2007 Motor City Bowl. Hopkins' 10 receptions and 140 yards receiving are the most in a game by any tight end in the nation this season.
AERIAL ATTACK
With 420 yards passing against Maryland last week, Jack Plummer became the third Purdue quarterback to throw for at least that many yards in a game in Jeff Brohm's two-plus seasons as the Boilermakers' head coach. Purdue has passed for 300 or more yards in 13 games under Brohm's leadership.
420+ Passing Yard Games Under Jeff Brohm
RINGING THE BELL
David Bell has been impressive in his first six collegiate games. He leads the Boilermakers with 438 yards receiving and three touchdown catches on 26 receptions this season. He has caught at least one pass in all six games thus far, but has really turned it on over the last three game with 20 receptions for 308 yards and two scores. The Indianapolis native hauled in nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland last weekend. The yardage total was the fourth most by a true freshman in school history. Bell is the only freshman nationally this year with at least 130 yards, nine catches and two touchdowns in the same game.
Most Receiving Yards by a True Freshman at Purdue
1 Rondale Moore - 170 vs. Ohio State, Oct. 20, 2018
2 DeAngelo Yancey - 146 vs. Nebraska, Oct. 12, 2013
3 Rondale Moore - 141 at Indiana, Nov. 24, 2018
4 David Bell - 138 vs. Maryland, Oct. 12, 2019
FABULOUS FROSH
Purdue scored five touchdowns against Maryland last week and the freshman class had a hand in all of them. Redshirt freshman Jack Plummer connected with true freshman David Bell on a 23-yard pass to open the scoring in the first quarter. True freshman King Doerue punched in a four-yard rush a couple of minutes later to stake the Boilermakers to a 13-0 lead. After a Maryland touchdown early in the second quarter cut Purdue's edge to 13-7, Plummer hit true freshman Milton Wright on a 59-yard pass on Purdue's next possession to push the advantage back to 13 points. Maryland scored later in the second to cut it 20-14 and was in its two-minute offense when redshirt freshman Cory Trice stepped in front of a Terrapin pass and returned the pick 37 yards for a touchdown with merely 18 seconds remaining in the opening half for a 30-14 Boilermaker lead. Plummer and Bell hooked up on an eight-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter to wrap up the day for Purdue.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Cory Trice's 37-yard pick-six against Maryland marked the fourth straight season Purdue has returned an interception for a touchdown. Trice also picked off another pass in the contest to become the first Boilermaker to have two interceptions in a game since Markus Bailey had a pair against Indiana in 2016.
Purdue Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns in the Last Four Years
2016 Gelen Robinson 78 yards vs. Eastern Kentucky
2017 Ja'Whaun Bentley 76 yards vs. Minnesota
2018 Markus Bailey 41 yards vs. Ohio State
2019 Cory Trice 37 yards vs. Maryland
KING-SIZE PERFORMANCE
Freshman running back King Doerue made his first start against Minnesota on Sept. 28 and rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries (4.7 average) and two touchdowns to go with four receptions for 32 yards and a score. He became the first true freshman with three touchdowns in a game for the Boilermakers since John Standeford against Northwestern at Northwestern on Oct. 14, 2000 (all receiving). Since then, two redshirt freshman have had three-touchdown games – Kory Sheets at Indiana in 2005 (all rushing) and Rob Henry vs. Minnesota in 2010 (all rushing).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Jeff Brohm's offense has utilized a number of Purdue's talented receivers this season. Paced by Rondale Moore's team-best 7.3 receptions per game, 12 different Boilermakers have at least one catch on the year and 10 different players have scored at least one touchdown via the passing game thus far.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 12 starters, the Boilermakers have had 30 true or redshirt freshman play in the first six games. WR Amad Anderson Jr. (R-Fr.), RB Alfred Armour (R-Fr.), WR David Bell (T-Fr.), OL Will Bramel (R-Fr.), RB King Doerue (T-Fr.), TE Payne Durham (R-Fr.), S Jalen Grahm (T-Fr.), DT Lawrence Johnson (R-Fr.), DE George Karlaftis (T-Fr.), OL Eric Miller (R-Fr.), QB Jack Plummer (R-Fr.) and CB Cory Trice (R-Fr.) have started for Purdue. CB Cam Allen (T-Fr.), LB Elijah Ball (R-Fr.), TE Kyle Bilodeau (T-Fr.), WR Jordan Bonner, P Brooks Cormier (T-Fr.), DL Jack Cravaack (R-Fr.), DE Branson Deen (R-Fr.), S Marvin Grant (T-Fr.), RB Da'Joun Hewitt (T-Fr.) OL Jimmy McKenna (R-Fr.), CB Jordan Rucker (R-Fr.), LB Khali Saunders (T-Fr.), WR TJ Sheffield (T-Fr.), LB Jack Smith (R-Fr.), DB Kadin Smith (R-Fr.), DT Jack Sullivan (R-Fr.), WR Kory Taylor (R-Fr.) and WR Milton Wright (T-Fr.) have seen action in games as reserves and on special teams.
KARLAFTIS CRUSHING IT
Freshman defensive end George Karlaftis paces Purdue with 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. His six-game total for TFLs is merely 3.5 away from Cornel Jones' team high of 12.5 from last season and he needs 1.5 sacks to equal Markus Bailey's team-best 5.5 from the 2018 campaign. He is tied for third in the Big Ten with an average of 1.60 tackles for loss per game and tied for 10th with 0.60 sacks per game. Karlaftis came up with an interception and a sack against TCU, becoming the first Purdue true freshman to do so in a game since Torri Williams at Iowa on Nov. 6, 2004.
DELLINGER'S DAY
J.D. Dellinger booted a career-long 53-yard field goal against TCU. It is tied for the third-longest kick in Purdue history. Dellinger has made six of eight field goal attempts this season, and his career total of 26 field goals places him in a tie with former teammate Spencer Evans in school annals.
Dellinger also has recorded 24 touchbacks among his 31 kickoffs this season.
Purdue Longest Field Goals
59 – Carson Wiggs vs. Toledo, 2009
55 – Carson Wiggs vs. Ohio State, 2009
53 – Carson Wiggs at Ohio State, 2008
53 – Carson Wiggs vs. Minnesota, 2011
53 – Paul Griggs vs. Wisconsin, 2014
53 – J.D. Dellinger vs. TCU, 2019
Purdue Career Field Goals
1 Travis Dorsch (1998-2001) 68
2 Carson Wiggs (2008-11) 56
3 Ben Jones (2003-05) 43
4 Jonathan Briggs (1985-87) 36
5 Chris Summers (2006-09) 31
Paul Griggs (2012-15) 31
7 Scott Sovereen (1976-78) 27
8 Spencer Evans (2017-18) 26
J.D. Dellinger (2016-) 26
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all six games thus far, he has led the Boilermakers in tackles in four contests. His 17 tackles against TCU were the most in a game for a Boilermaker since Willie Fells had 21 in 1997. He currently sits second in the Big Ten and tied for 16th nationally with 10.0 tackles per game.
STARTING WITH APLOMB
Against TCU, Jack Plummer became the 53rd different Purdue quarterback to start a game since 1960. He was the first redshirt freshman to start at signal-caller for the Boilermakers since David Blough on Sept. 26, 2015, against Bowling Green. Plummer threw his first career touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, a 54-yard bomb to Amad Anderson Jr., en route to a 181-yard passing day.
Plummer is merely the second Purdue quarterback to wear uniform No. 13, following Rick Trefzger from 1993 to 1996.
TOUGH SLATE
Purdue is one of four Power 5 Conference schools scheduled to play 11 Power 5 games in 2019. In addition to nine Big Ten games, the Boilermakers also squared off against the SEC's Vanderbilt and the Big 12's TCU. The other three schools that have faced a similar schedule are Boston College (Kansas, Rutgers, Notre Dame and eight ACC games), Stanford (Northwestern, Notre Dame and nine Pac-12 games) and West Virginia (Missouri, NC State and nine Big 12 games).
TOUGH SLATE, PART II
Eight of Purdue's 12 opponents in 2019 appeared in bowl games last season and went a combined 6-2 in the postseason.
Nova Home Loans Bowl - Nevada defeated Arkansas State 16-13.
Texas Bowl - Baylor defeated Vanderbilt 45-38.
Cheez-It Bowl - TCU defeated Cal 10-7 in overtime.
Quick Lane Bowl - Minnesota defeated Georgia Tech 34-10.
Citrus Bowl - Kentucky defeated Penn State 27-24.
Outback Bowl - Iowa defeated Mississippi State 27-22.
Holiday Bowl - Northwestern defeated Utah 31-20.
Pinstripe Bowl - Wisconsin defeated Miami (Fla.) 35-3.
TRENDING UP IN ATTENDANCE
Purdue's home-opening crowd of 50,506 on Sept. 7 against Vanderbilt was the largest to begin a season since 2008 when 51,476 Black and Gold faithful turned up to see Joe Tiller's Boilermakers knock off Northern Colorado 42-10. The following week against TCU saw a crowd of 60,037 show up to mark the largest crowd to witness a non-conference game at Ross-Ade since 61,127 fans attended the Boilermakers' Sept. 14, 2013, game against Notre Dame. The 52,296 homecoming crowd for the Maryland game this past weekend was an increase of 5,177 fans that took in homecoming vs. No. 23 Boston College last year.
In 2018, the Boilermakers attracted two capacity crowds of 60,716 at Ross-Ade Stadium – for the Ohio State and Iowa games – a first since 2007. Purdue's home attendance average of 51,120 was the highest since the 2008 season. Over the last three seasons, the Boilermakers have seen their attendance grow 33 percent (from 34,451 in 2016), tops in the country. Purdue was the only school to see its average increase by 3,000 from both 2016 to 2017 (nation-best 13,433) and from 2017 to 2018 (3,236). The trend appears to be on it's way to extending in 2019, with Purdue's faithful fanatics purchasing over 22,000 season tickets to go along with 10,575 student tickets.
ACADEMICS ARE JOB NO. 1
Five current Boilermakers have earned their bachelor's degrees: Markus Bailey (movement and sport sciences), Danny Carollo (selling and sales management), Matt McCann (building construction management technology), Elijah Sindelar (electrical engineering) and graduate transfer Ben Holt (interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on business at Western Kentucky). Bailey, Holt and McCann each are working on their master's degree in leadership this fall, while Sindelar is working on a master's in electrical engineering and Carollo is pursuing a minor in communication. Through the spring 2019 semester, the Boilermakers boasted a composite grade-point average of 2.93. Last season, a school-record 29 football players earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
#TYLERSTRONG
Prior to the Vanderbilt game Sept. 7, Purdue honored the legacy of Tyler Trent with the opening of the T-Squared Student Gate on the northeast side of Ross-Ade Stadium. Trent, who predicted the Boilermakers' historic 49-20 over No. 2 Ohio State last season, became a national inspiration with his fight for the advocacy of pediatric cancer treatment and research while battling osteosarcoma himself. He passed away Jan. 1, 2019, at the age of 20. Tyler's family, Tony (father), Kelly (mother), Blake (brother) and Ethan (brother), along with his best friend Josh Seals and Tyler Trent Courage and Resilience Award recipient Sean English, were the first to enter Ross-Ade through the re-named Trent Gate. Seals camped out with Tyler prior to the 2017 Michigan game when Tyler's battle with osteosarcoma first came to light.
TYLER TRENT TEAM CAPTAINS
Head coach Jeff Brohm announced the six 2019 Tyler Trent team captains after the first fall camp practice. Voted on by their teammates, offensive lineman Grant Hermanns, tight end Brycen Hopkins and quarterback Elijah Sindelar were named offensive captains, while linebacker Markus Bailey, safety Navon Mosley and tackle Lorenzo Neal were named from the defense. All of the 2019 captains are seniors, with Bailey, Neal and Sindelar voted to represent the team in back-to-back years. Brohm renamed the captaincy during the Boilermakers' spring game in April to honor the legacy of Purdue fan and 2018 captain Tyler Trent. Trent fought for the advocacy of pediatric cancer treatment and research while battling osteosarcoma himself. He passed away Jan. 1, 2019, at the age of 20.
PRO BOILERS
Ten Boilermakers have made National Football League opening-day 53-man rosters:
Ricardo Allen, S - Atlanta Falcons
Ja'Whaun Bentley, LB - New England Patriots
David Blough, QB - Detroit Lions
Drew Brees, QB - New Orleans Saints
Anthony Brown, CB - Dallas Cowboys
Dennis Kelly, T - Tennessee Titans
Ryan Kerrigan, LB - Washington Redskins
Raheem Mostert, RB - San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Pamphile, G - Tennessee Titans
Kawann Short, DT - Carolina Panthers
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Moon-Inspired Helmet Auction
PURDUE-IOWA SERIES DATA
Purdue leads 48-38-3
Current Streak: Purdue has won the last two meetings.
In Iowa City: Iowa leads 21-20-2
First Meeting: Oct. 22, 1910 – Iowa won 16-0 in West Lafayette.
Last Meeting: Nov. 3, 2018 – Purdue won 38-36 in West Lafayette.
Noteworthy: Senior kicker Spencer Evans booted a 25-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to lead the Boilermakers to a 38-36 victory over the 19th-ranked Hawkeyes in Ross-Ade Stadium last season. Iowa was the third nationally ranked team Purdue knocked off in 2018 (also No. 23 Boston College and No. 2 Ohio State). Senior wide receiver Terry Wright caught three touchdown passes and finished the contest with six receptions for 146 yards en route to being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Evans took home B1G Special Teams Player of the Week honors ... Starting in 1961 and lasting until 1980, the Boilermakers won 20 consecutive games against the Hawkeyes, the longest winning streak by Purdue against any Big Ten team in school history.
CONFERENCE HONORS FOR PLUMMER AND BELL
Quarterback Jack Plummer was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and wide receiver David Bell the conference's Freshman of the Week after their performances against Maryland last weekend. Plummer completed 33 of 41 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns against the Terrapins, while Bell was on the receiving end of nine of Plummer's passes for 138 yards and two scores. It is the first weekly recognition in both of their careers. Purdue had a school-record 10 Big Ten weekly award winners last season. More details about Plummer's and Bell's exploits against Maryland can be found further in the notes.
STRETCHING THE FIELD
The "healthy" Boilermakers feature five different receivers averaging 10 or more yards per reception this year (the number would rise to seven when including the injured Rondale Moore and Jared Sparks).
| Player | Rec-Yds | Avg/Rec |
| David Bell | 26-438 | 16.8 |
| Milton Wright | 6-101 | 16.8 |
| Brycen Hopkins | 24-345 | 14.4 |
| Amad Anderson Jr. | 17-230 | 13.5 |
| Payne Durham | 4-40 | 10.0 |
PRECISION PASSING
Redshirt freshman Jack Plummer completed 33 of 41 passes for a school-record breaking 80.5 completion percentage on 40 or more passing attempts in a game. Curtis Painter held the previous 40-plus attempts high water mark with a 77.6 completion percentage (40 of 49) against Eastern Illinois in 2007. Plummer's effort against Maryland last Saturday was the fifth-highest completion percentage in a game at Purdue with 20 or more passes attempted.
High Completion Percentage in a Game at Purdue (min. 20 attempts)
1 Kyle Orton vs. Ball State, 9/11/2004 - 88.5 (23-26)
2 Bob Griese vs. Notre Dame, 9/25/1965 - 86.4 (19-22)
3 Drew Brees vs. Minnesota, 10/3/1998 - 86.1 (31-36)
4 Mark Herrmann vs. Indiana, 11/22/1980 - 82.6 (19-23)
5 Jack Plummer vs. Maryland, 11/12/2019 - 80.5 (33-41)
HOPPING HOPKINS
After catching just one pass for three yards in Purdue's previous two games, fifth-year tight end Brycen Hopkins took his frustrations out on Maryland with an impressive day. Hopkins hauled in 10 passes for 140 yards against the Terrapins, both career highs for the Nashville native. His reception total was the most by a Purdue tight end since Tim Stratton finished with 12 against Washington State in the 2001 Sun Bowl and his yardage total the most by a Boilermaker at his position since Dustin Keller had 150 vs. Central Michigan in the 2007 Motor City Bowl. Hopkins' 10 receptions and 140 yards receiving are the most in a game by any tight end in the nation this season.
AERIAL ATTACK
With 420 yards passing against Maryland last week, Jack Plummer became the third Purdue quarterback to throw for at least that many yards in a game in Jeff Brohm's two-plus seasons as the Boilermakers' head coach. Purdue has passed for 300 or more yards in 13 games under Brohm's leadership.
420+ Passing Yard Games Under Jeff Brohm
| Player | Yards (Rank at Purdue) | Opponent, Date |
| David Blough | 572 (1st) | vs. Missouri, Sept. 15, 2018 |
| Elijah Sindelar | 509 (t6th) | vs. Vanderbilt, Sept. 7, 2019 |
| Elijah Sindelar | 423 (18th) | at Nevada, Aug. 30, 2019 |
| Jack Plummer | 420 (19th) | vs. Maryland, Oct. 12, 2019 |
RINGING THE BELL
David Bell has been impressive in his first six collegiate games. He leads the Boilermakers with 438 yards receiving and three touchdown catches on 26 receptions this season. He has caught at least one pass in all six games thus far, but has really turned it on over the last three game with 20 receptions for 308 yards and two scores. The Indianapolis native hauled in nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland last weekend. The yardage total was the fourth most by a true freshman in school history. Bell is the only freshman nationally this year with at least 130 yards, nine catches and two touchdowns in the same game.
Most Receiving Yards by a True Freshman at Purdue
1 Rondale Moore - 170 vs. Ohio State, Oct. 20, 2018
2 DeAngelo Yancey - 146 vs. Nebraska, Oct. 12, 2013
3 Rondale Moore - 141 at Indiana, Nov. 24, 2018
4 David Bell - 138 vs. Maryland, Oct. 12, 2019
FABULOUS FROSH
Purdue scored five touchdowns against Maryland last week and the freshman class had a hand in all of them. Redshirt freshman Jack Plummer connected with true freshman David Bell on a 23-yard pass to open the scoring in the first quarter. True freshman King Doerue punched in a four-yard rush a couple of minutes later to stake the Boilermakers to a 13-0 lead. After a Maryland touchdown early in the second quarter cut Purdue's edge to 13-7, Plummer hit true freshman Milton Wright on a 59-yard pass on Purdue's next possession to push the advantage back to 13 points. Maryland scored later in the second to cut it 20-14 and was in its two-minute offense when redshirt freshman Cory Trice stepped in front of a Terrapin pass and returned the pick 37 yards for a touchdown with merely 18 seconds remaining in the opening half for a 30-14 Boilermaker lead. Plummer and Bell hooked up on an eight-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter to wrap up the day for Purdue.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Cory Trice's 37-yard pick-six against Maryland marked the fourth straight season Purdue has returned an interception for a touchdown. Trice also picked off another pass in the contest to become the first Boilermaker to have two interceptions in a game since Markus Bailey had a pair against Indiana in 2016.
Purdue Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns in the Last Four Years
2016 Gelen Robinson 78 yards vs. Eastern Kentucky
2017 Ja'Whaun Bentley 76 yards vs. Minnesota
2018 Markus Bailey 41 yards vs. Ohio State
2019 Cory Trice 37 yards vs. Maryland
KING-SIZE PERFORMANCE
Freshman running back King Doerue made his first start against Minnesota on Sept. 28 and rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries (4.7 average) and two touchdowns to go with four receptions for 32 yards and a score. He became the first true freshman with three touchdowns in a game for the Boilermakers since John Standeford against Northwestern at Northwestern on Oct. 14, 2000 (all receiving). Since then, two redshirt freshman have had three-touchdown games – Kory Sheets at Indiana in 2005 (all rushing) and Rob Henry vs. Minnesota in 2010 (all rushing).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Jeff Brohm's offense has utilized a number of Purdue's talented receivers this season. Paced by Rondale Moore's team-best 7.3 receptions per game, 12 different Boilermakers have at least one catch on the year and 10 different players have scored at least one touchdown via the passing game thus far.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 12 starters, the Boilermakers have had 30 true or redshirt freshman play in the first six games. WR Amad Anderson Jr. (R-Fr.), RB Alfred Armour (R-Fr.), WR David Bell (T-Fr.), OL Will Bramel (R-Fr.), RB King Doerue (T-Fr.), TE Payne Durham (R-Fr.), S Jalen Grahm (T-Fr.), DT Lawrence Johnson (R-Fr.), DE George Karlaftis (T-Fr.), OL Eric Miller (R-Fr.), QB Jack Plummer (R-Fr.) and CB Cory Trice (R-Fr.) have started for Purdue. CB Cam Allen (T-Fr.), LB Elijah Ball (R-Fr.), TE Kyle Bilodeau (T-Fr.), WR Jordan Bonner, P Brooks Cormier (T-Fr.), DL Jack Cravaack (R-Fr.), DE Branson Deen (R-Fr.), S Marvin Grant (T-Fr.), RB Da'Joun Hewitt (T-Fr.) OL Jimmy McKenna (R-Fr.), CB Jordan Rucker (R-Fr.), LB Khali Saunders (T-Fr.), WR TJ Sheffield (T-Fr.), LB Jack Smith (R-Fr.), DB Kadin Smith (R-Fr.), DT Jack Sullivan (R-Fr.), WR Kory Taylor (R-Fr.) and WR Milton Wright (T-Fr.) have seen action in games as reserves and on special teams.
KARLAFTIS CRUSHING IT
Freshman defensive end George Karlaftis paces Purdue with 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. His six-game total for TFLs is merely 3.5 away from Cornel Jones' team high of 12.5 from last season and he needs 1.5 sacks to equal Markus Bailey's team-best 5.5 from the 2018 campaign. He is tied for third in the Big Ten with an average of 1.60 tackles for loss per game and tied for 10th with 0.60 sacks per game. Karlaftis came up with an interception and a sack against TCU, becoming the first Purdue true freshman to do so in a game since Torri Williams at Iowa on Nov. 6, 2004.
DELLINGER'S DAY
J.D. Dellinger booted a career-long 53-yard field goal against TCU. It is tied for the third-longest kick in Purdue history. Dellinger has made six of eight field goal attempts this season, and his career total of 26 field goals places him in a tie with former teammate Spencer Evans in school annals.
Dellinger also has recorded 24 touchbacks among his 31 kickoffs this season.
Purdue Longest Field Goals
59 – Carson Wiggs vs. Toledo, 2009
55 – Carson Wiggs vs. Ohio State, 2009
53 – Carson Wiggs at Ohio State, 2008
53 – Carson Wiggs vs. Minnesota, 2011
53 – Paul Griggs vs. Wisconsin, 2014
53 – J.D. Dellinger vs. TCU, 2019
Purdue Career Field Goals
1 Travis Dorsch (1998-2001) 68
2 Carson Wiggs (2008-11) 56
3 Ben Jones (2003-05) 43
4 Jonathan Briggs (1985-87) 36
5 Chris Summers (2006-09) 31
Paul Griggs (2012-15) 31
7 Scott Sovereen (1976-78) 27
8 Spencer Evans (2017-18) 26
J.D. Dellinger (2016-) 26
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all six games thus far, he has led the Boilermakers in tackles in four contests. His 17 tackles against TCU were the most in a game for a Boilermaker since Willie Fells had 21 in 1997. He currently sits second in the Big Ten and tied for 16th nationally with 10.0 tackles per game.
STARTING WITH APLOMB
Against TCU, Jack Plummer became the 53rd different Purdue quarterback to start a game since 1960. He was the first redshirt freshman to start at signal-caller for the Boilermakers since David Blough on Sept. 26, 2015, against Bowling Green. Plummer threw his first career touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, a 54-yard bomb to Amad Anderson Jr., en route to a 181-yard passing day.
Plummer is merely the second Purdue quarterback to wear uniform No. 13, following Rick Trefzger from 1993 to 1996.
TOUGH SLATE
Purdue is one of four Power 5 Conference schools scheduled to play 11 Power 5 games in 2019. In addition to nine Big Ten games, the Boilermakers also squared off against the SEC's Vanderbilt and the Big 12's TCU. The other three schools that have faced a similar schedule are Boston College (Kansas, Rutgers, Notre Dame and eight ACC games), Stanford (Northwestern, Notre Dame and nine Pac-12 games) and West Virginia (Missouri, NC State and nine Big 12 games).
TOUGH SLATE, PART II
Eight of Purdue's 12 opponents in 2019 appeared in bowl games last season and went a combined 6-2 in the postseason.
Nova Home Loans Bowl - Nevada defeated Arkansas State 16-13.
Texas Bowl - Baylor defeated Vanderbilt 45-38.
Cheez-It Bowl - TCU defeated Cal 10-7 in overtime.
Quick Lane Bowl - Minnesota defeated Georgia Tech 34-10.
Citrus Bowl - Kentucky defeated Penn State 27-24.
Outback Bowl - Iowa defeated Mississippi State 27-22.
Holiday Bowl - Northwestern defeated Utah 31-20.
Pinstripe Bowl - Wisconsin defeated Miami (Fla.) 35-3.
TRENDING UP IN ATTENDANCE
Purdue's home-opening crowd of 50,506 on Sept. 7 against Vanderbilt was the largest to begin a season since 2008 when 51,476 Black and Gold faithful turned up to see Joe Tiller's Boilermakers knock off Northern Colorado 42-10. The following week against TCU saw a crowd of 60,037 show up to mark the largest crowd to witness a non-conference game at Ross-Ade since 61,127 fans attended the Boilermakers' Sept. 14, 2013, game against Notre Dame. The 52,296 homecoming crowd for the Maryland game this past weekend was an increase of 5,177 fans that took in homecoming vs. No. 23 Boston College last year.
In 2018, the Boilermakers attracted two capacity crowds of 60,716 at Ross-Ade Stadium – for the Ohio State and Iowa games – a first since 2007. Purdue's home attendance average of 51,120 was the highest since the 2008 season. Over the last three seasons, the Boilermakers have seen their attendance grow 33 percent (from 34,451 in 2016), tops in the country. Purdue was the only school to see its average increase by 3,000 from both 2016 to 2017 (nation-best 13,433) and from 2017 to 2018 (3,236). The trend appears to be on it's way to extending in 2019, with Purdue's faithful fanatics purchasing over 22,000 season tickets to go along with 10,575 student tickets.
ACADEMICS ARE JOB NO. 1
Five current Boilermakers have earned their bachelor's degrees: Markus Bailey (movement and sport sciences), Danny Carollo (selling and sales management), Matt McCann (building construction management technology), Elijah Sindelar (electrical engineering) and graduate transfer Ben Holt (interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on business at Western Kentucky). Bailey, Holt and McCann each are working on their master's degree in leadership this fall, while Sindelar is working on a master's in electrical engineering and Carollo is pursuing a minor in communication. Through the spring 2019 semester, the Boilermakers boasted a composite grade-point average of 2.93. Last season, a school-record 29 football players earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
#TYLERSTRONG
Prior to the Vanderbilt game Sept. 7, Purdue honored the legacy of Tyler Trent with the opening of the T-Squared Student Gate on the northeast side of Ross-Ade Stadium. Trent, who predicted the Boilermakers' historic 49-20 over No. 2 Ohio State last season, became a national inspiration with his fight for the advocacy of pediatric cancer treatment and research while battling osteosarcoma himself. He passed away Jan. 1, 2019, at the age of 20. Tyler's family, Tony (father), Kelly (mother), Blake (brother) and Ethan (brother), along with his best friend Josh Seals and Tyler Trent Courage and Resilience Award recipient Sean English, were the first to enter Ross-Ade through the re-named Trent Gate. Seals camped out with Tyler prior to the 2017 Michigan game when Tyler's battle with osteosarcoma first came to light.
TYLER TRENT TEAM CAPTAINS
Head coach Jeff Brohm announced the six 2019 Tyler Trent team captains after the first fall camp practice. Voted on by their teammates, offensive lineman Grant Hermanns, tight end Brycen Hopkins and quarterback Elijah Sindelar were named offensive captains, while linebacker Markus Bailey, safety Navon Mosley and tackle Lorenzo Neal were named from the defense. All of the 2019 captains are seniors, with Bailey, Neal and Sindelar voted to represent the team in back-to-back years. Brohm renamed the captaincy during the Boilermakers' spring game in April to honor the legacy of Purdue fan and 2018 captain Tyler Trent. Trent fought for the advocacy of pediatric cancer treatment and research while battling osteosarcoma himself. He passed away Jan. 1, 2019, at the age of 20.
PRO BOILERS
Ten Boilermakers have made National Football League opening-day 53-man rosters:
Ricardo Allen, S - Atlanta Falcons
Ja'Whaun Bentley, LB - New England Patriots
David Blough, QB - Detroit Lions
Drew Brees, QB - New Orleans Saints
Anthony Brown, CB - Dallas Cowboys
Dennis Kelly, T - Tennessee Titans
Ryan Kerrigan, LB - Washington Redskins
Raheem Mostert, RB - San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Pamphile, G - Tennessee Titans
Kawann Short, DT - Carolina Panthers