Game Notes
Old Oaken Bucket Game Tickets
PURDUE-INDIANA SERIES DATA
Purdue leads 71-41-6 all-time.
Current Streak: Purdue has won the last two meetings.
In West Lafayette: Purdue leads 38-22-4
First Meeting: Oct. 4, 1891 – Purdue won 60-0 at home.
Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2018 – Purdue won 28-21 on the road.
Noteworthy: On this date in 1963, Purdue defeated Indiana 21-15, eight days after U.S. president John Kennedy was assassinated. That game originally was scheduled to be played a week earlier but was postponed following the tragedy. The Boilermakers appeared headed for their second straight loss to the Hoosiers, trailing 15-14 with less than three minutes to go. But after Indiana scored the go-ahead touchdown. Gordon Teter rambled 68 yards on the ensuing kickoff before being stopped at the Indiana 25-yard line. Then, on the first play from scrimmage, Ron DiGravio connected with Randy Minniear for a touchdown that produced a victory and a winning season (5-4 record).
CENTURY MARK
Including seven times this season, at least one Purdue player has gone over 100 yards receiving in a game 20 times in the tenure of head coach Jeff Brohm (there have been five games with multiple players eclipsing the mark). In total, the 24 times that at a player has hauled in 100 or more yards receiving has been done in 37 games under Brohm's leadership at Purdue. As perspective, one would need to go back to the Northwestern game on Oct. 3, 2009, for Purdue receivers to equal that mark prior to Brohm's arrival (94 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)
127 - Brycen Hopkins at Wisconsin, 11/23/2019 (8)
124 - Rondale Moore at Nevada, 8/30/2019 (11)
118 - Anthony Mahoungou vs. Arizona, 12/27/2017 (6)
115 - David Bell at Northwestern, 11/9/2019 (14)
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)
108 - David Bell at Wisconsin, 11/23/2019 (12)
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)
DYNAMIC DUO
For merely the second time since 1985, two teammates have recorded over 100 yards receiving in the same game twice in a season.
10/12/1985 vs. Illinois - Rodney Carter (158) and Mark Jackson (140)
10/19/1985 at Ohio State - Rodney Carter (190) and Mark Jackson (132)
9/15/2018 vs. Missouri - Rondale Moore (137) and Isaac Zico (100) - also Brycen Hopkins (136)
10/13/2018 at Illinois - Isaac Zico (127) and Rondale Moore (101)
10/17/2019 vs. Maryland - Brycen Hopkins (140) and David Bell (138)
11/23/2019 at Wisconsin - Brycen Hopkins (127) and David Bell (108)
BELLWETHER WIDE RECEIVER
After recording 12 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown at Wisconsin last weekend, true frosh David Bell has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week a school-record-tying four times this season (also Rondale Moore last year). The Indianapolis native leads the Big Ten in receptions (77), is third in the conference in receiving yards (899) and tied for ninth in receiving touchdowns (6). He has caught at least one pass in all 11 of his collegiate games thus far, including a career-high 14 at Northwestern on Nov. 9. His five 100-yard receiving games in 2019 is tied for the third-most in a season in school history. Bell's 197 yards receiving at Iowa on Oct. 19 were the most by a true freshman in school history.
OLD OAKEN BUCKET
Since 1925, Purdue and Indiana have played annually for the Old Oaken Bucket. The Boilermakers lead the Bucket portion of the all-time series 60-31-3, including 15 wins in the last 22 showdowns.
The Chicago alumni groups of both schools came up with the idea for a traveling trophy, and Russell Gray of Purdue and Clarence Jones of Indiana were given the task of finding an appropriate object. They recommended that "an old oaken bucket would be a most typical trophy from this state and should be taken from a well somewhere in Indiana." Purdue's Fritz Ernst and Whiley J. Huddle of Indiana found the fabled bucket, in a bad state of repair and covered with moss and mold, on the Bruner farm between Kent and Hanover in southern Indiana.
The Bruner farm was settled in the 1840s, and family lore suggests the bucket might have been used by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his soldiers during their incursion into Indiana in 1863 during the Civil War.
George Ade, distinguished humorist from Purdue, and Harry Kurrie, president of the Monon Railroad, representing Indiana, formally introduced the Old Oaken Bucket in 1925. The Boilermakers and Hoosiers subsequently battled to a 0-0 tie Nov. 21 at Ross-Ade Stadium, resulting in an "I-P" link being attached to the bucket.
Throughout its history, the bucket has been kidnapped by partisans from both schools – a couple of times missing so long that it was given up as lost, only to turn up mysteriously just before or after the annual game.
ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Rondale Moore (3.74, selling and sales management) and Eric Miller (3.85, management) have been named CoSIDA Academic All-District 5, making the pair are eligible for Academic All-America honors.
GAME-WINNERS
Sophomore quarterback Aidan O'Connell has engineered game-winning drives late in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska and Northwestern. Against Nebraska on Nov. 2, O'Connell went 6 for 6 passing for 62 yards that helped lead to a nine-yard game-winning touchdown rush by David Bell. At Northwestern on Nov. 9, he completed 4 of 6 passes on the final drive for 26 yards, which culminated in a J.D. Dellinger game-winning 39-yard field goal with three seconds remaining. Combined, O'Connell is 10 of 12 for 88 yards on the two drives. O'Connell is merely the third Boilermaker signal caller to put together game-winning drives in the final two minutes of a game in the same season since 2000 (also Drew Brees in 2000 vs. Michigan and Ohio State and Elijah Sindelar in 2017 vs. Minnesota and Arizona).
MACKEY MANIA
Named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, senior tight end Brycen Hopkins is turning in a fine final season at Purdue. Hopkins ranks second in the nation among tight ends with 53 receptions and third with 688 receiving yards. Harrison Bryant of Florida Atlantic is tops in both categories with 58 catches for 890 yards. Hopkins hauled in 10 passes for 140 yards against Maryland on Oct. 12, both career highs. Hopkins' 140 yards receiving vs. Maryland on Oct. 12 are the most in a game by any tight end in the nation, while his 10 receptions are tied for the most by tight ends. The Mackey Award is presented annually to the nation's top tight end. Purdue's Tim Stratton won the inaugural award in 2000.
DANDY DELLINGER DATA
In the Boilermakers' 24-22 win at Northwestern on Nov. 9, junior kicker J.D. Dellinger drilled the second game-winning field goal of his career and the eighth for Purdue since 2000.
Game-Winning Field Goals (Since 2000)
* Travis Dorsch (33 yards) vs. Michigan, Oct. 7, 2000 (0:04)
* Ben Jones (18 yards) at Wisconsin, Oct. 18, 2003 (0:03)
* Casey Welch (18 yards) at Michigan State, Nov. 4, 2006 (4:49)
* Chris Summers (40 yards) vs. Central Michigan (Motor City Bowl), Dec. 26, 2007 (0:00)
* Paul Griggs (46 yards) at Iowa, Nov. 10, 2012 (0:00)
* J.D. Dellinger (28 yards) at Illinois, Oct. 8, 2016 (OT)
* Spencer Evans (25 yards) vs. Iowa, Nov. 3, 2018 (0:08)
* J.D. Dellinger (39 yards) at Northwestern, Nov. 9, 2019 (0:03)
Dellinger was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, just as he was for his game-winner at Illinois on Oct. 8, 2016.
Dellinger currently shares the Purdue season record with an .833 field goal percentage (also Ben Jones in 2003), having made 10 of 12 attempts.
On the school career lists, Dellinger ranks third in field goal percentage (.732) and seventh in field goals (30).
Dellinger is 27 of 31 for his career on field goals inside 40 yards.
Purdue Career Field Goal Percentage
.765 (26-34) – Spencer Evans, 2017-18
.765 (56-76) – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11
.738 (31-42) – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-
Purdue Career Field Goals
68 – Travis Dorsch, 1998-2001
56 – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11
43 – Ben Jones, 2003-05
36 – Jonathan Briggs, 1985-87
31 – Chris Summers, 2006-09
31 – Paul Griggs, 2012-15
31 – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-
NEXT MAN UP
Making his first career start at Northwestern on Nov. 9, Aidan O'Connell became the Boilermakers' third quarterback to start a game this season. Purdue has not started more than two quarterbacks in a season since lining up four different starting signal callers in 2010 (Robert Marve, Rob Henry, Justin Siller and Sean Robinson). 2019 marks the third time since 1962 that three starting quarterbacks have won games for the Boilermakers:
2019: Jake Plummer (2), Aidan O'Connell (1), Elijah Sindelar (1)
1992: Eric Hunter (2), Scott Hoffman (1), Matt Pike (1)
1962: Ron DiGravio (2), Ron Meyer (1), Skip Ohl (1)
GOOD GOLLY, GEORGE
Freshman defensive end George Karlaftis paces Purdue with 15.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. His 11-game total for TFLs is already two ahead of Cornel Jones' team-high of 12.5 in 13 games from last season and the most by a Boilermaker since Kawann Short also posted 15.5 in 2012, while his sack total is the most by an individual at Purdue since Short finished that same season with 7.0. He has forced a fumble and recovered two others this season. 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.
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Boilermakers have put together 33 touchdown drives over the course of the 2019 season and have had to move the ball 70 or more yards on 25 of them before reaching the end zone (75.8 percent). The Boilermakers have posted three 99-yard touchdown drives this season (at Nevada, vs. Minnesota and vs. Illinois).
Length of Drive Number of Times
70-79 yards 16
80-89 yards 3
90-99 yards 6
B1G WEEKLY HONORS
David Bell's school-record-tying fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors following the Wisconsin game has boosted Purdue season tally to eight in 2019. The Boilermakers had a school-record 10 student-athletes selected Big Ten Players of the Week last year.
2019 Purdue Big Ten Players of the Week
Sept. 9 – Elijah Sindelar (Offensive)
Oct. 14 – Jack Plummer (Offensive) and David Bell (Freshman)
Oct. 21 – David Bell (Freshman)
Nov. 4 – King Doerue (Freshman)
Nov. 11 – J.D. Dellinger (Special Teams) and David Bell (Freshman)
Nov. 25 - David Bell (Freshman)
LOCKING IT DOWN
After yielding 175 yards and 14 points on Northwestern's first two drives on Nov. 9, Purdue's defense limited the Wildcats merely 260 yards combined and six points on their next 11 offensive possessions.
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) and interceptions (Cory Trice).
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).
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 13 starters, the Boilermakers have had 33 true or redshirt freshman play this season. 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 Graham (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 (R-Fr.), 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.), TE Garrett Miller (T-Fr.), WR Mershawn Rice (T-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 LB Jacob Wahlberg (T-Fr.) have seen action in games as reserves and on special teams.
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all 11 games thus far, he has led the Boilermakers in tackles in seven 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 17th nationally with an average of 9.5 tackles per game.
TOUCHDOWN TRIO
Purdue has had three quarterbacks throw a touchdown pass (Elijah Sindelar, Jack Plummer and Aidan O'Connell) for the first time since the 2013 season (Danny Etling, Rob Henry and Austin Appleby).
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
Old Oaken Bucket Game Tickets
PURDUE-INDIANA SERIES DATA
Purdue leads 71-41-6 all-time.
Current Streak: Purdue has won the last two meetings.
In West Lafayette: Purdue leads 38-22-4
First Meeting: Oct. 4, 1891 – Purdue won 60-0 at home.
Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2018 – Purdue won 28-21 on the road.
Noteworthy: On this date in 1963, Purdue defeated Indiana 21-15, eight days after U.S. president John Kennedy was assassinated. That game originally was scheduled to be played a week earlier but was postponed following the tragedy. The Boilermakers appeared headed for their second straight loss to the Hoosiers, trailing 15-14 with less than three minutes to go. But after Indiana scored the go-ahead touchdown. Gordon Teter rambled 68 yards on the ensuing kickoff before being stopped at the Indiana 25-yard line. Then, on the first play from scrimmage, Ron DiGravio connected with Randy Minniear for a touchdown that produced a victory and a winning season (5-4 record).
CENTURY MARK
Including seven times this season, at least one Purdue player has gone over 100 yards receiving in a game 20 times in the tenure of head coach Jeff Brohm (there have been five games with multiple players eclipsing the mark). In total, the 24 times that at a player has hauled in 100 or more yards receiving has been done in 37 games under Brohm's leadership at Purdue. As perspective, one would need to go back to the Northwestern game on Oct. 3, 2009, for Purdue receivers to equal that mark prior to Brohm's arrival (94 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)
127 - Brycen Hopkins at Wisconsin, 11/23/2019 (8)
124 - Rondale Moore at Nevada, 8/30/2019 (11)
118 - Anthony Mahoungou vs. Arizona, 12/27/2017 (6)
115 - David Bell at Northwestern, 11/9/2019 (14)
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)
108 - David Bell at Wisconsin, 11/23/2019 (12)
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)
DYNAMIC DUO
For merely the second time since 1985, two teammates have recorded over 100 yards receiving in the same game twice in a season.
10/12/1985 vs. Illinois - Rodney Carter (158) and Mark Jackson (140)
10/19/1985 at Ohio State - Rodney Carter (190) and Mark Jackson (132)
9/15/2018 vs. Missouri - Rondale Moore (137) and Isaac Zico (100) - also Brycen Hopkins (136)
10/13/2018 at Illinois - Isaac Zico (127) and Rondale Moore (101)
10/17/2019 vs. Maryland - Brycen Hopkins (140) and David Bell (138)
11/23/2019 at Wisconsin - Brycen Hopkins (127) and David Bell (108)
BELLWETHER WIDE RECEIVER
After recording 12 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown at Wisconsin last weekend, true frosh David Bell has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week a school-record-tying four times this season (also Rondale Moore last year). The Indianapolis native leads the Big Ten in receptions (77), is third in the conference in receiving yards (899) and tied for ninth in receiving touchdowns (6). He has caught at least one pass in all 11 of his collegiate games thus far, including a career-high 14 at Northwestern on Nov. 9. His five 100-yard receiving games in 2019 is tied for the third-most in a season in school history. Bell's 197 yards receiving at Iowa on Oct. 19 were the most by a true freshman in school history.
OLD OAKEN BUCKET
Since 1925, Purdue and Indiana have played annually for the Old Oaken Bucket. The Boilermakers lead the Bucket portion of the all-time series 60-31-3, including 15 wins in the last 22 showdowns.
The Chicago alumni groups of both schools came up with the idea for a traveling trophy, and Russell Gray of Purdue and Clarence Jones of Indiana were given the task of finding an appropriate object. They recommended that "an old oaken bucket would be a most typical trophy from this state and should be taken from a well somewhere in Indiana." Purdue's Fritz Ernst and Whiley J. Huddle of Indiana found the fabled bucket, in a bad state of repair and covered with moss and mold, on the Bruner farm between Kent and Hanover in southern Indiana.
The Bruner farm was settled in the 1840s, and family lore suggests the bucket might have been used by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his soldiers during their incursion into Indiana in 1863 during the Civil War.
George Ade, distinguished humorist from Purdue, and Harry Kurrie, president of the Monon Railroad, representing Indiana, formally introduced the Old Oaken Bucket in 1925. The Boilermakers and Hoosiers subsequently battled to a 0-0 tie Nov. 21 at Ross-Ade Stadium, resulting in an "I-P" link being attached to the bucket.
Throughout its history, the bucket has been kidnapped by partisans from both schools – a couple of times missing so long that it was given up as lost, only to turn up mysteriously just before or after the annual game.
ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Rondale Moore (3.74, selling and sales management) and Eric Miller (3.85, management) have been named CoSIDA Academic All-District 5, making the pair are eligible for Academic All-America honors.
GAME-WINNERS
Sophomore quarterback Aidan O'Connell has engineered game-winning drives late in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska and Northwestern. Against Nebraska on Nov. 2, O'Connell went 6 for 6 passing for 62 yards that helped lead to a nine-yard game-winning touchdown rush by David Bell. At Northwestern on Nov. 9, he completed 4 of 6 passes on the final drive for 26 yards, which culminated in a J.D. Dellinger game-winning 39-yard field goal with three seconds remaining. Combined, O'Connell is 10 of 12 for 88 yards on the two drives. O'Connell is merely the third Boilermaker signal caller to put together game-winning drives in the final two minutes of a game in the same season since 2000 (also Drew Brees in 2000 vs. Michigan and Ohio State and Elijah Sindelar in 2017 vs. Minnesota and Arizona).
MACKEY MANIA
Named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, senior tight end Brycen Hopkins is turning in a fine final season at Purdue. Hopkins ranks second in the nation among tight ends with 53 receptions and third with 688 receiving yards. Harrison Bryant of Florida Atlantic is tops in both categories with 58 catches for 890 yards. Hopkins hauled in 10 passes for 140 yards against Maryland on Oct. 12, both career highs. Hopkins' 140 yards receiving vs. Maryland on Oct. 12 are the most in a game by any tight end in the nation, while his 10 receptions are tied for the most by tight ends. The Mackey Award is presented annually to the nation's top tight end. Purdue's Tim Stratton won the inaugural award in 2000.
DANDY DELLINGER DATA
In the Boilermakers' 24-22 win at Northwestern on Nov. 9, junior kicker J.D. Dellinger drilled the second game-winning field goal of his career and the eighth for Purdue since 2000.
Game-Winning Field Goals (Since 2000)
* Travis Dorsch (33 yards) vs. Michigan, Oct. 7, 2000 (0:04)
* Ben Jones (18 yards) at Wisconsin, Oct. 18, 2003 (0:03)
* Casey Welch (18 yards) at Michigan State, Nov. 4, 2006 (4:49)
* Chris Summers (40 yards) vs. Central Michigan (Motor City Bowl), Dec. 26, 2007 (0:00)
* Paul Griggs (46 yards) at Iowa, Nov. 10, 2012 (0:00)
* J.D. Dellinger (28 yards) at Illinois, Oct. 8, 2016 (OT)
* Spencer Evans (25 yards) vs. Iowa, Nov. 3, 2018 (0:08)
* J.D. Dellinger (39 yards) at Northwestern, Nov. 9, 2019 (0:03)
Dellinger was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, just as he was for his game-winner at Illinois on Oct. 8, 2016.
Dellinger currently shares the Purdue season record with an .833 field goal percentage (also Ben Jones in 2003), having made 10 of 12 attempts.
On the school career lists, Dellinger ranks third in field goal percentage (.732) and seventh in field goals (30).
Dellinger is 27 of 31 for his career on field goals inside 40 yards.
Purdue Career Field Goal Percentage
.765 (26-34) – Spencer Evans, 2017-18
.765 (56-76) – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11
.738 (31-42) – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-
Purdue Career Field Goals
68 – Travis Dorsch, 1998-2001
56 – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11
43 – Ben Jones, 2003-05
36 – Jonathan Briggs, 1985-87
31 – Chris Summers, 2006-09
31 – Paul Griggs, 2012-15
31 – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-
NEXT MAN UP
Making his first career start at Northwestern on Nov. 9, Aidan O'Connell became the Boilermakers' third quarterback to start a game this season. Purdue has not started more than two quarterbacks in a season since lining up four different starting signal callers in 2010 (Robert Marve, Rob Henry, Justin Siller and Sean Robinson). 2019 marks the third time since 1962 that three starting quarterbacks have won games for the Boilermakers:
2019: Jake Plummer (2), Aidan O'Connell (1), Elijah Sindelar (1)
1992: Eric Hunter (2), Scott Hoffman (1), Matt Pike (1)
1962: Ron DiGravio (2), Ron Meyer (1), Skip Ohl (1)
GOOD GOLLY, GEORGE
Freshman defensive end George Karlaftis paces Purdue with 15.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. His 11-game total for TFLs is already two ahead of Cornel Jones' team-high of 12.5 in 13 games from last season and the most by a Boilermaker since Kawann Short also posted 15.5 in 2012, while his sack total is the most by an individual at Purdue since Short finished that same season with 7.0. He has forced a fumble and recovered two others this season. 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.
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Boilermakers have put together 33 touchdown drives over the course of the 2019 season and have had to move the ball 70 or more yards on 25 of them before reaching the end zone (75.8 percent). The Boilermakers have posted three 99-yard touchdown drives this season (at Nevada, vs. Minnesota and vs. Illinois).
Length of Drive Number of Times
70-79 yards 16
80-89 yards 3
90-99 yards 6
B1G WEEKLY HONORS
David Bell's school-record-tying fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors following the Wisconsin game has boosted Purdue season tally to eight in 2019. The Boilermakers had a school-record 10 student-athletes selected Big Ten Players of the Week last year.
2019 Purdue Big Ten Players of the Week
Sept. 9 – Elijah Sindelar (Offensive)
Oct. 14 – Jack Plummer (Offensive) and David Bell (Freshman)
Oct. 21 – David Bell (Freshman)
Nov. 4 – King Doerue (Freshman)
Nov. 11 – J.D. Dellinger (Special Teams) and David Bell (Freshman)
Nov. 25 - David Bell (Freshman)
LOCKING IT DOWN
After yielding 175 yards and 14 points on Northwestern's first two drives on Nov. 9, Purdue's defense limited the Wildcats merely 260 yards combined and six points on their next 11 offensive possessions.
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) and interceptions (Cory Trice).
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).
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Including 13 starters, the Boilermakers have had 33 true or redshirt freshman play this season. 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 Graham (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 (R-Fr.), 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.), TE Garrett Miller (T-Fr.), WR Mershawn Rice (T-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 LB Jacob Wahlberg (T-Fr.) have seen action in games as reserves and on special teams.
BEN'S BEEN BIG
Graduate transfer Ben Holt has been a revelation. Starting all 11 games thus far, he has led the Boilermakers in tackles in seven 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 17th nationally with an average of 9.5 tackles per game.
TOUCHDOWN TRIO
Purdue has had three quarterbacks throw a touchdown pass (Elijah Sindelar, Jack Plummer and Aidan O'Connell) for the first time since the 2013 season (Danny Etling, Rob Henry and Austin Appleby).
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