Game Notes
PURDUE-MARYLAND SERIES DATA
Maryland leads 2-0
Current Streak: Maryland has won the last two meetings.
In West Lafayette: First Meeting.
First Meeting: Dec. 29, 2006 – Maryland won 24-7 in Champs Sports Bowl.
Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2016 – Oct. 1, 2016 – Maryland won 50-7 at home.
Noteworthy: The 2006 Boilermakers were the nation's only team to play 13 regular-season games without an open week. Purdue, which had 20 players make their first career starts, returned to the bowl scene and finished with an 8-6 record. Curtis Painter, with the benefit of playing one more game, broke Drew Brees' Big Ten season record with 3,985 passing yards (now the second-most in conference history). Mike Otto set a school record with 50 career starts at left offensive tackle – every game he played over four seasons. Defensive end Anthony Spencer led the nation with 26.5 tackles for loss en route to earning first-team All-American honors.
HOMECOMING HISTORY
Today's Homecoming game is the 97th in school history. The Boilermakers have a 51-41-4 record in these autumn celebration games, dating to a 3-0 victory over Northwestern on Nov. 5, 1921.
Maryland is the 16th different Homecoming opponent for the Boilermakers. Among Big Ten schools, Purdue has yet to play Nebraska and Rutgers for Homecoming. Here is the breakdown by conference foe: Wisconsin (21 games), Illinois (19), Iowa (15), Northwestern (14), Minnesota (9), Michigan State (4), Indiana (2), Michigan (2), Ohio State (2) and Penn State (1).
Homecoming 2020 will be Oct. 31 against Northwestern.
HONORING THE CRADLE OF ASTRONAUTS
Purdue is known as the Cradle of Astronauts, and the Boilermakers are wearing a moon-inspired helmet and astronaut-themed patch on their uniform. The numbers on the helmet stripe – 2, 25 and 64 – represent Purdue men to walk on the moon, Purdue astronauts in space and space missions by Purdue astronauts. The coaching staff is donning apparel with the logo that appears on the patch.
For its halftime show, the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band will be joined by a group of astronaut alumni. The show celebrates their accomplishments in space exploration, and the astronauts will be recognized.
WECLOME, MARYLAND
Maryland is making its first appearance at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers boast a 6-4-1 record in initial games against current Big Ten opponents at Ross-Ade. Rutgers will make its maiden visit Oct. 10, 2020.
First Games at Ross-Ade Against Current Big Ten Teams
Indiana – Nov. 22, 1924 (W 26-7)
Northwestern – Nov. 14, 1925 (L 9-13)
Wisconsin – Oct. 16, 1926 (T 0-0)
Michigan – Oct. 12, 1929 (W 30-16)
Iowa – Nov. 16, 1929 (W 7-0)
Illinois – Oct. 10, 1931 (W 7-0)
Ohio State – Oct. 4, 1947 (W 24-20)
Minnesota – Nov. 17, 1951 (W 19-13)
Michigan State – Nov. 1, 1952 (L 7-14)
Penn State – Oct. 14, 1995 (L 23-26)
Nebraska – Oct. 12, 2013 (L 7-44)
25-50
Purdue will celebrate the 25th and 50th anniversaries of its 1994 and 1969 teams during Saturday's game.
The 1994 Boilermakers, under head coach Jim Colletto, won four of their first five games and went on to finish the season with a 5-4-2 overall record, including a forfeit victory over Michigan State. Mike Alstott tied the school season record with 14 rushing touchdowns and became Purdue's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1976. His 1,188 rushing yards were second only to Otis Armstrong's 1,361 in 1972. Alstott would break the school record a year later with 1,436 yards. As a team, the Boilermaker set a school record with 36 rushing touchdowns – a mark that still stands.
In Jack Mollenkopf's final season as head coach, the 1969 Boilermakers went 8-2 and finished third in the Big Tem with a 5-2 record. Mike Phipps made history by becoming the first quarterback in NCAA history to defeat Notre Dame three consecutive years when the Boilermakers beat the Fighting Irish 28-14 at Ross-Ade Stadium on Sept. 27. For the third time in four seasons, the Boilermakers had the Heisman Trophy runner-up, as Phipps was narrowly beaten by Oklahoma fullback Steve Owens. Phipps was a consensus All-American, an Academic All-American and the Big Ten Most Valuable Player. On Jan. 7, 1970, while in Honolulu to coach in the Hula Bowl, Mollenkopf announced his retirement. His 14-year record with the Boilermakers was 84-39-9, and he was the winningest coach in school history until Joe Tiller surpassed him in 2008.
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 Big Ten-best 7.3 receptions per game, 12 different Boilermakers have at least one catch on the year and nine 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 five games.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 10 starters, the Boilermakers have had 27 true or redshirt freshman play in the first three games. WR Amad Anderson Jr. (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.), QB Jack Plummer (R-Fr.) and CB Cory Trice (R-Fr.) have started for Purdue. CB Cam Allen (T-Fr.), RB Alfred Armour (R-Fr.), LB Elijah Ball (R-Fr.), TE Kyle Bilodeau (T-Fr.), WR Jordan Bonner, P Brooks Cormier (T-Fr.), DE Branson Deen (R-Fr.), S Marvin Grant (T-Fr.), OL Jimmy McKenna (R-Fr.), OL Eric Miller (R-Fr.), CB Jordan Rucker (R-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 eight tackles for loss and four sacks. He ranks third in the Big Ten with an average of 1.60 tackles for loss per game and tied for seventh with 0.80 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.
ALREADY AMONG THE TOPS
It has taken standout wide receiver Rondale Moore all of 17 collegiate games to break into a number of the top 20 all-time categories in Purdue history.
Career Receptions
12 Isaac Jones (1995-98) - 154
13 Steve Griffin (1982-85) - 146
14 Rondale Moore (2018-) - 143
Career Receiving Touchdowns
12 Steve Bryant (1980-81) - 15
Chris Daniels (1996-99) - 15
Tm Stratton (1998-2001) - 15
15 Bart Burrell (1977-80) - 14
Rondale Moore (2018-) - 14
Career 100-Yard Receiving Games
3 Taylor Stubblefield (2001-04) - 11
4 Steve Griffin (1982-85) - 9
Dorian Bryant (2004-07) - 9
DeAngelo Yancey (2013-16) - 9
Rondale Moore (2018-) - 9
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 three of four field goal attempts this season, and his career total of 24 field goals ranks ninth in school annals.
Dellinger also has recorded 19 touchbacks among his 21 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
9 J.D. Dellinger (2016-) - 24
BACK 4 MOORE
Rondale Moore, who electrified college football as a true freshman in 2018, returns for his second season with the Boilermakers. In 2018, he became merely the third player in Big Ten history to record 100 or more receptions, finishing with 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He broke the school record for all-purpose yards for both a game (313 vs. Northwestern) and in a season (2,215) en route to winning the 2018 Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. He was named a consensus All-American last season, becoming the first true freshman in Big Ten history to be so honored.
Moore in 2018
• Paul Hornung Award recipient as the nation's most versatile player.
• First true freshman consensus All-American in Big Ten history.
• First-team All-America by the Associated Press.
• First-team All-America by Football Writers Association of America.
• First-team All-America by ESPN.com.
• First-team All-America by Sports Illustrated.
• First-team All-America by CBS Sports.
• Second-team All-America by the Sporting News.
• First-team Freshman All-America by the Associated Press.
• Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year.
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
• First-team All-Big Ten (wide receiver and special teams).
• Three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
• Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a season (2,215).
• Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a game (313).
• Tied the school record for most 100-yard receiving games (7).
• Caught 11 or more passes in a game six times.
• Is merely the third player in Big Ten history with 100 or more receptions (114) in a season.
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all five 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 eighth nationally with 11.0 tackles per game.
MORE ON MOORE
Rondale Moore, who has hauled in 11 or more receptions eight times in 16 career collegiate contests, leads all of the Football Bowl Subdivision with a career average of 8.41 receptions per game. His closest rival, Justin Hall of Ball State, averages 5.93 catches per game.
Moore's career average of 164.24 all-purpose yards per game is tops among all current FBS players.
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. 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
PURDUE-MARYLAND SERIES DATA
Maryland leads 2-0
Current Streak: Maryland has won the last two meetings.
In West Lafayette: First Meeting.
First Meeting: Dec. 29, 2006 – Maryland won 24-7 in Champs Sports Bowl.
Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2016 – Oct. 1, 2016 – Maryland won 50-7 at home.
Noteworthy: The 2006 Boilermakers were the nation's only team to play 13 regular-season games without an open week. Purdue, which had 20 players make their first career starts, returned to the bowl scene and finished with an 8-6 record. Curtis Painter, with the benefit of playing one more game, broke Drew Brees' Big Ten season record with 3,985 passing yards (now the second-most in conference history). Mike Otto set a school record with 50 career starts at left offensive tackle – every game he played over four seasons. Defensive end Anthony Spencer led the nation with 26.5 tackles for loss en route to earning first-team All-American honors.
HOMECOMING HISTORY
Today's Homecoming game is the 97th in school history. The Boilermakers have a 51-41-4 record in these autumn celebration games, dating to a 3-0 victory over Northwestern on Nov. 5, 1921.
Maryland is the 16th different Homecoming opponent for the Boilermakers. Among Big Ten schools, Purdue has yet to play Nebraska and Rutgers for Homecoming. Here is the breakdown by conference foe: Wisconsin (21 games), Illinois (19), Iowa (15), Northwestern (14), Minnesota (9), Michigan State (4), Indiana (2), Michigan (2), Ohio State (2) and Penn State (1).
Homecoming 2020 will be Oct. 31 against Northwestern.
HONORING THE CRADLE OF ASTRONAUTS
Purdue is known as the Cradle of Astronauts, and the Boilermakers are wearing a moon-inspired helmet and astronaut-themed patch on their uniform. The numbers on the helmet stripe – 2, 25 and 64 – represent Purdue men to walk on the moon, Purdue astronauts in space and space missions by Purdue astronauts. The coaching staff is donning apparel with the logo that appears on the patch.
For its halftime show, the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band will be joined by a group of astronaut alumni. The show celebrates their accomplishments in space exploration, and the astronauts will be recognized.
WECLOME, MARYLAND
Maryland is making its first appearance at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers boast a 6-4-1 record in initial games against current Big Ten opponents at Ross-Ade. Rutgers will make its maiden visit Oct. 10, 2020.
First Games at Ross-Ade Against Current Big Ten Teams
Indiana – Nov. 22, 1924 (W 26-7)
Northwestern – Nov. 14, 1925 (L 9-13)
Wisconsin – Oct. 16, 1926 (T 0-0)
Michigan – Oct. 12, 1929 (W 30-16)
Iowa – Nov. 16, 1929 (W 7-0)
Illinois – Oct. 10, 1931 (W 7-0)
Ohio State – Oct. 4, 1947 (W 24-20)
Minnesota – Nov. 17, 1951 (W 19-13)
Michigan State – Nov. 1, 1952 (L 7-14)
Penn State – Oct. 14, 1995 (L 23-26)
Nebraska – Oct. 12, 2013 (L 7-44)
25-50
Purdue will celebrate the 25th and 50th anniversaries of its 1994 and 1969 teams during Saturday's game.
The 1994 Boilermakers, under head coach Jim Colletto, won four of their first five games and went on to finish the season with a 5-4-2 overall record, including a forfeit victory over Michigan State. Mike Alstott tied the school season record with 14 rushing touchdowns and became Purdue's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1976. His 1,188 rushing yards were second only to Otis Armstrong's 1,361 in 1972. Alstott would break the school record a year later with 1,436 yards. As a team, the Boilermaker set a school record with 36 rushing touchdowns – a mark that still stands.
In Jack Mollenkopf's final season as head coach, the 1969 Boilermakers went 8-2 and finished third in the Big Tem with a 5-2 record. Mike Phipps made history by becoming the first quarterback in NCAA history to defeat Notre Dame three consecutive years when the Boilermakers beat the Fighting Irish 28-14 at Ross-Ade Stadium on Sept. 27. For the third time in four seasons, the Boilermakers had the Heisman Trophy runner-up, as Phipps was narrowly beaten by Oklahoma fullback Steve Owens. Phipps was a consensus All-American, an Academic All-American and the Big Ten Most Valuable Player. On Jan. 7, 1970, while in Honolulu to coach in the Hula Bowl, Mollenkopf announced his retirement. His 14-year record with the Boilermakers was 84-39-9, and he was the winningest coach in school history until Joe Tiller surpassed him in 2008.
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 Big Ten-best 7.3 receptions per game, 12 different Boilermakers have at least one catch on the year and nine 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 five games.
| Year | Player | Through Five Games | Full Season |
| 2017 | Jackson Anthrop (RS) | 21 receptions, 207 yards, 4 TDs | 47 receptions, 423 yards, 5 TDs |
| 2018 | Rondale Moore (T) | 41 receptions, 457 yards, 4 TDs | 114 receptions, 1,258 yards, 12 TDs |
| 2019 | David Bell (T) | 17 receptions, 300 yards, 1 TD |
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 10 starters, the Boilermakers have had 27 true or redshirt freshman play in the first three games. WR Amad Anderson Jr. (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.), QB Jack Plummer (R-Fr.) and CB Cory Trice (R-Fr.) have started for Purdue. CB Cam Allen (T-Fr.), RB Alfred Armour (R-Fr.), LB Elijah Ball (R-Fr.), TE Kyle Bilodeau (T-Fr.), WR Jordan Bonner, P Brooks Cormier (T-Fr.), DE Branson Deen (R-Fr.), S Marvin Grant (T-Fr.), OL Jimmy McKenna (R-Fr.), OL Eric Miller (R-Fr.), CB Jordan Rucker (R-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 eight tackles for loss and four sacks. He ranks third in the Big Ten with an average of 1.60 tackles for loss per game and tied for seventh with 0.80 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.
ALREADY AMONG THE TOPS
It has taken standout wide receiver Rondale Moore all of 17 collegiate games to break into a number of the top 20 all-time categories in Purdue history.
Career Receptions
12 Isaac Jones (1995-98) - 154
13 Steve Griffin (1982-85) - 146
14 Rondale Moore (2018-) - 143
Career Receiving Touchdowns
12 Steve Bryant (1980-81) - 15
Chris Daniels (1996-99) - 15
Tm Stratton (1998-2001) - 15
15 Bart Burrell (1977-80) - 14
Rondale Moore (2018-) - 14
Career 100-Yard Receiving Games
3 Taylor Stubblefield (2001-04) - 11
4 Steve Griffin (1982-85) - 9
Dorian Bryant (2004-07) - 9
DeAngelo Yancey (2013-16) - 9
Rondale Moore (2018-) - 9
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 three of four field goal attempts this season, and his career total of 24 field goals ranks ninth in school annals.
Dellinger also has recorded 19 touchbacks among his 21 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
9 J.D. Dellinger (2016-) - 24
BACK 4 MOORE
Rondale Moore, who electrified college football as a true freshman in 2018, returns for his second season with the Boilermakers. In 2018, he became merely the third player in Big Ten history to record 100 or more receptions, finishing with 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He broke the school record for all-purpose yards for both a game (313 vs. Northwestern) and in a season (2,215) en route to winning the 2018 Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. He was named a consensus All-American last season, becoming the first true freshman in Big Ten history to be so honored.
Moore in 2018
• Paul Hornung Award recipient as the nation's most versatile player.
• First true freshman consensus All-American in Big Ten history.
• First-team All-America by the Associated Press.
• First-team All-America by Football Writers Association of America.
• First-team All-America by ESPN.com.
• First-team All-America by Sports Illustrated.
• First-team All-America by CBS Sports.
• Second-team All-America by the Sporting News.
• First-team Freshman All-America by the Associated Press.
• Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year.
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
• First-team All-Big Ten (wide receiver and special teams).
• Three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
• Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a season (2,215).
• Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a game (313).
• Tied the school record for most 100-yard receiving games (7).
• Caught 11 or more passes in a game six times.
• Is merely the third player in Big Ten history with 100 or more receptions (114) in a season.
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all five 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 eighth nationally with 11.0 tackles per game.
MORE ON MOORE
Rondale Moore, who has hauled in 11 or more receptions eight times in 16 career collegiate contests, leads all of the Football Bowl Subdivision with a career average of 8.41 receptions per game. His closest rival, Justin Hall of Ball State, averages 5.93 catches per game.
Moore's career average of 164.24 all-purpose yards per game is tops among all current FBS players.
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. 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