Game Notes
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PURDUE-ILLINOIS SERIES DATA
Series tied 44-44-6
Current Streak: Purdue has won the last three meetings.
In West Lafayette: Illinois leads 22-21-4
First Meeting: Nov. 22, 1890 – Purdue won 62-0 at home.
Last Meeting: Oct. 13, 2018 – Purdue won 46-7 on the road.
Noteworthy: David Blough passed for 377 yards and three touchdowns, as the Boilermakers knocked off the Fighting Illini 46-7 in Champaign last season. Isaac Zico caught five passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, while Rondale Moore had an efficient 101 yards on four receptions. Running back D.J. Knox racked up a season-high 150 yards on 17 carries (8.8 ypc). Defensively, Purdue forced six Illinois drives to three or less plays, while allowing the Illini merely 250 yards of total offense, 77 of which came on their lone scoring drive in the first quarter ... More than one-third of the Fighting Illini's wins in the series came between 1897 and 1919, when they went 15-2-2 against the Boilermakers. Purdue has won 14 of the last 19 games – including six of nine at home – dating to 1994. In the even-steven all-time series, the Boilermakers have outscored the Illini 1,789 to 1,687, an average of 1.1 points per game.
CANNON TROPHY
The Cannon was conceived by Purdue students more than 100 years ago but was first presented as a trophy by an Illinois alumnus 76 years ago. It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the weapon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a victory. Although Purdue did win the game 29-0, Illinois supporters, including Quincy A. Hall, had discovered the Cannon in its hiding place – in a culvert near the old Illinois field – and confiscated it before the Purdue students could start their "booming" celebration. Later, Hall moved the Cannon to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois, where it survived a fire and gathered dust until Hall suggested it be used as a trophy between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse.
Purdue leads the Cannon series 36-29-2, including 11 wins in the last 14 matchups. Purdue won the 2018 meeting 46-7 in Champaign.
CENTURY MARK
Including four times this season, at least one Purdue player has gone over 100 yards receiving in a game 17 times in the tenure of head coach Jeff Brohm (there have been four games with multiple players eclipsing the mark). In total, the 21 times that at a player has hauled in 100 or more yards receiving has been done in 33 games under Brohm's leadership at Purdue. As perspective, one would need to go back to the Ohio State game on Oct. 17, 2009, for Purdue receivers to equal that mark prior to Brohm's arrival (92 games).
Yards Player and Opponent, Date (Receptions)
220 - Rondale Moore vs. Vanderbilt, 9/9/2019 (13)
197 - David Bell at Iowa, 10/19/2019 (13)
170 - Rondale Moore vs. Ohio State, 10/20/2018 (12)
149 - Gregory Phillips vs. Arizona, 12/27/2017 (14)
146 - Terry Wright vs. Iowa, 11/3/2018 (6)
141 - Rondale Moore at Indiana, 11/24/2018 (12)
140 - Brycen Hopkins vs. Maryland, 10/12/2019 (10)
138 - David Bell vs. Maryland, 10/12/2019 (9)
137 - Rondale Moore vs. Missouri, 9/15/2018 (11)
136 - Brycen Hopkins vs. Missouri, 9/15/2018 (5)
135 - Anthony Mahoungou vs. Iowa, 11/18/2017 (7)
130 - Jared Sparks at Northwestern, 11/11/2017 (11)
127 - Isaac Zico at Illinois, 10/13/2018 (5)
124 - Rondale Moore at Nevada, 8/30/2019 (11)
118 - Anthony Mahoungou vs. Arizona, 12/27/2017 (6)
114 - Rondale Moore vs. Wisconsin, 11/17/2018 (9)
110 - Rondale Moore vs. Boston College 9/22/2018 (8)
109 - Rondale Moore vs. Northwestern, 8/30/2018 (11)
103 - Brycen Hopkins at Nebraska, 9/29/2018 (5)
101 - Rondale Moore at Illinois, 10/13/2018 (4)
100 - Isaac Zico vs. Missouri, 9/15/2018 (4)
STRETCHING THE FIELD
The "healthy" Boilermakers feature five different receivers averaging 10 or more yards per reception this year (the number would rise to six when including the injured Rondale Moore).
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 against Maryland on Oct. 12. 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 the Terrapins 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)
AERIAL ATTACK
With 420 yards passing against Maryland, 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 is only the second school in Big Ten history to boast two quarterbacks with 400-yard passing games in a season. Elijah Sindelar had 423 yards at Nevada and 509 yards vs. Vanderbilt, while Jack Plummer had the 420 yards against the Terrapins. Minnesota accomplished the rare feat in 1993. Purdue has passed for 300 or more yards in 14 games under Brohm's leadership.
420+ Passing Yard Games Under Jeff Brohm
RINGING THE BELL
David Bell has earned back-to-back Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. He had nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland on Oct. 12, followed by 13 catches for 197 yards (most by a freshman in school history and eighth-most all-time) and a touchdown at Iowa last Saturday. Bell is the third Boilermaker to earn that conference recognition on multiple occasions, following Frankie Williams (twice in 2012) and Rondale Moore (three times in 2018).
Most Receiving Yards by a True Freshman at Purdue
1 David Bell - 197 at Iowa, Oct. 19, 2019
2 Rondale Moore - 170 vs. Ohio State, Oct. 20, 2018
3 DeAngelo Yancey - 146 vs. Nebraska, Oct. 12, 2013
4 Rondale Moore - 141 at Indiana, Nov. 24, 2018
5 David Bell - 138 vs. Maryland, Oct. 12, 2019
FABULOUS FROSH
Purdue has scored 13 touchdowns in its last five games and the freshman class has solely had a hand in 12 of them. The lone exception being a seven-pass from Jack Plummer to Zander Horvath vs. Minnesota.
YOU GOTTA LIKE THESE KIDS
Redshirt or true freshmen top the Boilermakers or share the team lead in a bushel basket of statistical categories, including rushing yards (King Doerue), passing yards (Jack Plummer), receptions (David Bell), receiving yards (Bell), total offense (Plummer), all-purpose yards (Bell), tackles for loss (George Karlaftis), sacks (Karlaftis), pass breakups (Jack Sullivan), interception (Cory Trice) and punting (Brooks Cormier).
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
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 were the most in a game by any tight end in the nation in the first half of the season.
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 David Bell's team-high 39 receptions, 13 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.
YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY
In Jeff Brohm's two-plus season with the Boilermakers, he has shown that he is not shy about playing guys - no matter their experience, especially at wide receiver. Jackson Anthrop led the team in receiving as a redshirt freshman in 2017, Rondale Moore exploded onto the college football scene as a true freshman last season and this year true freshman David Bell has already posted impressive numbers in his first seven games.
Year Player Through Seven Games Full Season
2017 Jackson Anthrop (RS) 27 receptions, 267 yards, 4 TDs 47 receptions, 423 yards, 5 TDs
2018 Rondale Moore (T) 57 receptions, 728 yards, 7 TDs 114 receptions, 1,258 yards, 12 TDs
2019 David Bell (T) 39 receptions, 635 yards, 4 TDs
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 13 starters, the Boilermakers have had 30 true or redshirt freshman play in the first seven 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.), CB Cory Trice (R-Fr.) and WR Milton Wright (T-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.) and WR Kory Taylor (R-Fr.) have seen action in games as reserves and on special teams.
KARLAFTIS CRUSHING IT
Freshman defensive end George Karlaftis paces Purdue with 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. His seven-game total for TFLs is merely 2.5 away from Cornel Jones' team high of 12.5 from last season and he needs half a sack 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 1.50 tackles for loss per game and 12th with 0.70 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 28 field goals places solely in seventh in school annals.
Dellinger also has recorded 25 touchbacks among his 34 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 J.D. Dellinger (2016-) - 28
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all seven 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 third in the Big Ten and tied for 16th nationally with 9.6 tackles per game.
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 Oct. 12 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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PURDUE-ILLINOIS SERIES DATA
Series tied 44-44-6
Current Streak: Purdue has won the last three meetings.
In West Lafayette: Illinois leads 22-21-4
First Meeting: Nov. 22, 1890 – Purdue won 62-0 at home.
Last Meeting: Oct. 13, 2018 – Purdue won 46-7 on the road.
Noteworthy: David Blough passed for 377 yards and three touchdowns, as the Boilermakers knocked off the Fighting Illini 46-7 in Champaign last season. Isaac Zico caught five passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, while Rondale Moore had an efficient 101 yards on four receptions. Running back D.J. Knox racked up a season-high 150 yards on 17 carries (8.8 ypc). Defensively, Purdue forced six Illinois drives to three or less plays, while allowing the Illini merely 250 yards of total offense, 77 of which came on their lone scoring drive in the first quarter ... More than one-third of the Fighting Illini's wins in the series came between 1897 and 1919, when they went 15-2-2 against the Boilermakers. Purdue has won 14 of the last 19 games – including six of nine at home – dating to 1994. In the even-steven all-time series, the Boilermakers have outscored the Illini 1,789 to 1,687, an average of 1.1 points per game.
CANNON TROPHY
The Cannon was conceived by Purdue students more than 100 years ago but was first presented as a trophy by an Illinois alumnus 76 years ago. It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the weapon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a victory. Although Purdue did win the game 29-0, Illinois supporters, including Quincy A. Hall, had discovered the Cannon in its hiding place – in a culvert near the old Illinois field – and confiscated it before the Purdue students could start their "booming" celebration. Later, Hall moved the Cannon to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois, where it survived a fire and gathered dust until Hall suggested it be used as a trophy between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse.
Purdue leads the Cannon series 36-29-2, including 11 wins in the last 14 matchups. Purdue won the 2018 meeting 46-7 in Champaign.
CENTURY MARK
Including four times this season, at least one Purdue player has gone over 100 yards receiving in a game 17 times in the tenure of head coach Jeff Brohm (there have been four games with multiple players eclipsing the mark). In total, the 21 times that at a player has hauled in 100 or more yards receiving has been done in 33 games under Brohm's leadership at Purdue. As perspective, one would need to go back to the Ohio State game on Oct. 17, 2009, for Purdue receivers to equal that mark prior to Brohm's arrival (92 games).
Yards Player and Opponent, Date (Receptions)
220 - Rondale Moore vs. Vanderbilt, 9/9/2019 (13)
197 - David Bell at Iowa, 10/19/2019 (13)
170 - Rondale Moore vs. Ohio State, 10/20/2018 (12)
149 - Gregory Phillips vs. Arizona, 12/27/2017 (14)
146 - Terry Wright vs. Iowa, 11/3/2018 (6)
141 - Rondale Moore at Indiana, 11/24/2018 (12)
140 - Brycen Hopkins vs. Maryland, 10/12/2019 (10)
138 - David Bell vs. Maryland, 10/12/2019 (9)
137 - Rondale Moore vs. Missouri, 9/15/2018 (11)
136 - Brycen Hopkins vs. Missouri, 9/15/2018 (5)
135 - Anthony Mahoungou vs. Iowa, 11/18/2017 (7)
130 - Jared Sparks at Northwestern, 11/11/2017 (11)
127 - Isaac Zico at Illinois, 10/13/2018 (5)
124 - Rondale Moore at Nevada, 8/30/2019 (11)
118 - Anthony Mahoungou vs. Arizona, 12/27/2017 (6)
114 - Rondale Moore vs. Wisconsin, 11/17/2018 (9)
110 - Rondale Moore vs. Boston College 9/22/2018 (8)
109 - Rondale Moore vs. Northwestern, 8/30/2018 (11)
103 - Brycen Hopkins at Nebraska, 9/29/2018 (5)
101 - Rondale Moore at Illinois, 10/13/2018 (4)
100 - Isaac Zico vs. Missouri, 9/15/2018 (4)
STRETCHING THE FIELD
The "healthy" Boilermakers feature five different receivers averaging 10 or more yards per reception this year (the number would rise to six when including the injured Rondale Moore).
| Player | Rec-Yds | Avg/Rec |
| David Bell | 39-635 | 16.3 |
| Milton Wright | 6-101 | 16.8 |
| Amad Anderson Jr. | 19-262 | 13.8 |
| Jared Sparks | 8-108 | 13.5 |
| Brycen Hopkins | 29-396 | 13.3 |
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 against Maryland on Oct. 12. 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 the Terrapins 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)
AERIAL ATTACK
With 420 yards passing against Maryland, 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 is only the second school in Big Ten history to boast two quarterbacks with 400-yard passing games in a season. Elijah Sindelar had 423 yards at Nevada and 509 yards vs. Vanderbilt, while Jack Plummer had the 420 yards against the Terrapins. Minnesota accomplished the rare feat in 1993. Purdue has passed for 300 or more yards in 14 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 earned back-to-back Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. He had nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland on Oct. 12, followed by 13 catches for 197 yards (most by a freshman in school history and eighth-most all-time) and a touchdown at Iowa last Saturday. Bell is the third Boilermaker to earn that conference recognition on multiple occasions, following Frankie Williams (twice in 2012) and Rondale Moore (three times in 2018).
Most Receiving Yards by a True Freshman at Purdue
1 David Bell - 197 at Iowa, Oct. 19, 2019
2 Rondale Moore - 170 vs. Ohio State, Oct. 20, 2018
3 DeAngelo Yancey - 146 vs. Nebraska, Oct. 12, 2013
4 Rondale Moore - 141 at Indiana, Nov. 24, 2018
5 David Bell - 138 vs. Maryland, Oct. 12, 2019
FABULOUS FROSH
Purdue has scored 13 touchdowns in its last five games and the freshman class has solely had a hand in 12 of them. The lone exception being a seven-pass from Jack Plummer to Zander Horvath vs. Minnesota.
| vs. TCU | Jack Plummer to Amad Anderson Jr., 54-yard pass |
| vs. Minnesota | King Doerue, 8-yard rush |
| King Doerue, 2-yard rush | |
| Jack Plummer to King Doerue, 13-yard pass | |
| at Penn State | Jack Plummer to Amad Anderson Jr., 15-yard pass |
| vs. Maryland | Jack Plummer to David Bell, 23-yard pass |
| King Doerue, 4-yard rush | |
| Jack Plummer to Milton Wright, 59-yard pass | |
| Cory Trice, 37-yard interception return | |
| Jack Plummer to David Bell, 8-yard pass | |
| at Iowa | Jack Plummer to David Bell, 7-yard pass |
| Jack Plummer to Payne Durham, 1-yard pass |
YOU GOTTA LIKE THESE KIDS
Redshirt or true freshmen top the Boilermakers or share the team lead in a bushel basket of statistical categories, including rushing yards (King Doerue), passing yards (Jack Plummer), receptions (David Bell), receiving yards (Bell), total offense (Plummer), all-purpose yards (Bell), tackles for loss (George Karlaftis), sacks (Karlaftis), pass breakups (Jack Sullivan), interception (Cory Trice) and punting (Brooks Cormier).
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
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 were the most in a game by any tight end in the nation in the first half of the season.
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 David Bell's team-high 39 receptions, 13 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.
YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY
In Jeff Brohm's two-plus season with the Boilermakers, he has shown that he is not shy about playing guys - no matter their experience, especially at wide receiver. Jackson Anthrop led the team in receiving as a redshirt freshman in 2017, Rondale Moore exploded onto the college football scene as a true freshman last season and this year true freshman David Bell has already posted impressive numbers in his first seven games.
Year Player Through Seven Games Full Season
2017 Jackson Anthrop (RS) 27 receptions, 267 yards, 4 TDs 47 receptions, 423 yards, 5 TDs
2018 Rondale Moore (T) 57 receptions, 728 yards, 7 TDs 114 receptions, 1,258 yards, 12 TDs
2019 David Bell (T) 39 receptions, 635 yards, 4 TDs
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 13 starters, the Boilermakers have had 30 true or redshirt freshman play in the first seven 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.), CB Cory Trice (R-Fr.) and WR Milton Wright (T-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.) and WR Kory Taylor (R-Fr.) have seen action in games as reserves and on special teams.
KARLAFTIS CRUSHING IT
Freshman defensive end George Karlaftis paces Purdue with 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. His seven-game total for TFLs is merely 2.5 away from Cornel Jones' team high of 12.5 from last season and he needs half a sack 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 1.50 tackles for loss per game and 12th with 0.70 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 28 field goals places solely in seventh in school annals.
Dellinger also has recorded 25 touchbacks among his 34 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 J.D. Dellinger (2016-) - 28
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all seven 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 third in the Big Ten and tied for 16th nationally with 9.6 tackles per game.
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 Oct. 12 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