WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The dynamic duo of David Bell and Aidan O'Connell earned All-Big Ten Conference recognition from the league's coaches and media, as the league office released the offensive honors Wednesday on Big Ten Network. Along with earning First Team All-Big Ten accolades for the second straight season, Bell was named the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year, awarded to the conference's best wide receiver.
Bell became the second Purdue wide receiver to be selected as the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year, joining Rondale Moore, who won the award in 2018. The honor is named after Big Ten legends Pat Richter (Wisconsin) and Desmond Howard (Michigan).
One of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, Bell has been one of the best receivers nationwide. The Indianapolis native leads the Big Ten in catches per game (8.5) and receiving yards per game (116.9), ranking second and fourth in the country, respectively. With 1,286 receiving yards on the year, Bell is just 21 yards shy of the school record for a single season.
Eclipsing the 100-yard plateau in seven of his 11 games this season, Bell has set a new Purdue record with 17 career 100-yard receiving games. He also ranks in the school's all-time Top 10 for receptions (4th), receiving yards (5th) and receiving touchdowns (T-5th). Bell is averaging an FBS-leading 101.6 receiving yards per game for his career, the only active receiver in triple digits. His 8.0 receptions per game is currently the 2nd-most for an active NCAA career.
Bell torched No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16) with 11 catches for 240 yards, the 2nd-most receiving yards ever by a Boilermaker in a single game. He added another 200-yard day against No. 3 Michigan State (Nov. 6), hauling in 11 receptions for 217 yards and a touchdown to lead Purdue to another top-5 win. With the pair of performances, Bell joined Brian Alford as the only Boilermakers with multiple 200-yard receiving games in season.
O'Connell earned second team all-conference honors, the first Purdue quarterback to be named to one of the first two All-Big Ten teams since Kyle Orton in 2004. The fifth-year senior is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the country, completing 73.5 percent of his passes to lead the Big Ten and rank third nationally. That completion percentage is currently tied for the best in Big Ten history (Dan Persa, Northwestern – 2010) and seven percent higher than the school record (David Blough – 2018).
Despite splitting time at points of the season, O'Connell has thrown for 3,177 yards (17th nationally) and 23 touchdowns (25th nationally). The gunslinger has produced five 300-yard games, the first Purdue quarterback to accomplish the feat since Blough in 2016.
O'Connell's last five games have been stellar to say the least, averaging 372 yards through the air, completing 76.5 percent of his passes (169-221) and tossing 18 touchdowns without an interception. That includes a pair of 400-yard contests. Against Michigan State (Nov. 6), O'Connell threw for a career-best 536 yards on 40-of-54 passing with three scores to lead the Boilermakers to a 40-29 upset victory. Passing for 423 yards in the win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field two weeks later (Nov. 20), he became just the sixth Purdue quarterback to record multiple 400-yard games in a season.
Five other Boilermakers on the offensive side of the ball earned honorable mention accolades: Payne Durham, Gus Hartwig, Greg Long, Tyler Witt and Milton Wright.
The trio of Hartwig (center), Long (left tackle) and Witt (right guard) has been a staple on the Purdue offensive line all season long. Hartwig and Witt have started all 12 games for the Boilermakers, while Long has made 11 starts protecting the quarterback's blindside. With the help of their blocking, Purdue has set a new school record for completions in a single season (381), snapping the 23-year old record of 377 with one game still to play. The three Boilermakers also protect the second-best passing offense in the Big Ten, as Purdue averages 340.4 yards per game through the air.
Also an honoree for sportsmanship around the conference, Durham was tabbed honorable mention. The Purdue tight end has caught 40 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns, ranking fourth on the team in all three categories. In the season opener against Oregon State (Sept. 4), Durham produced his first career 100-yard game with seven catches for a career-high 120 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 100-yard performance versus Wisconsin (Oct. 23), hauling in a personal-best nine receptions for 112 yards and a score.
Alongside Bell, Wright has had a strong 2021 season of his own. The Boilermaker wide receiver has tallied 732 yards on 57 catches. His seven receiving touchdowns leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Wright had a career day against Northwestern (Nov. 20), hauling in eight receptions for 213 yards and three touchdowns to earn career highs in all three categories. The performance was Wright's first multi-touchdown game of his career, and he joined Bell as Boilermaker wide receivers recording a trio of receiving touchdowns in a game this season. In fact, only four other Big Ten receivers have scored at least three touchdowns in a game during the 2021 campaign.
In total, 14 Boilermakers earned recognition from the Big Ten heading into the postseason.
Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year
David Bell – WR
First Team All-B1G
David Bell – WR
George Karlaftis – DL
Second Team All-B1G
Aidan O'Connell – QB
B1G Honorable Mention
Jaylan Alexander – LB
Cam Allen – S
Brandon Deen – DT
Payne Durham – TE
Mitchell Fineran – K
Jalen Graham – LB/S
Gus Hartwig – OL
Greg Long – OL
Dedrick Mackey – CB
Tyler Witt – OL
Milton Wright – WR
B1G Sportsmanship Award
Payne Durham – TE
Bell became the second Purdue wide receiver to be selected as the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year, joining Rondale Moore, who won the award in 2018. The honor is named after Big Ten legends Pat Richter (Wisconsin) and Desmond Howard (Michigan).
One of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, Bell has been one of the best receivers nationwide. The Indianapolis native leads the Big Ten in catches per game (8.5) and receiving yards per game (116.9), ranking second and fourth in the country, respectively. With 1,286 receiving yards on the year, Bell is just 21 yards shy of the school record for a single season.
Eclipsing the 100-yard plateau in seven of his 11 games this season, Bell has set a new Purdue record with 17 career 100-yard receiving games. He also ranks in the school's all-time Top 10 for receptions (4th), receiving yards (5th) and receiving touchdowns (T-5th). Bell is averaging an FBS-leading 101.6 receiving yards per game for his career, the only active receiver in triple digits. His 8.0 receptions per game is currently the 2nd-most for an active NCAA career.
Bell torched No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16) with 11 catches for 240 yards, the 2nd-most receiving yards ever by a Boilermaker in a single game. He added another 200-yard day against No. 3 Michigan State (Nov. 6), hauling in 11 receptions for 217 yards and a touchdown to lead Purdue to another top-5 win. With the pair of performances, Bell joined Brian Alford as the only Boilermakers with multiple 200-yard receiving games in season.
O'Connell earned second team all-conference honors, the first Purdue quarterback to be named to one of the first two All-Big Ten teams since Kyle Orton in 2004. The fifth-year senior is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the country, completing 73.5 percent of his passes to lead the Big Ten and rank third nationally. That completion percentage is currently tied for the best in Big Ten history (Dan Persa, Northwestern – 2010) and seven percent higher than the school record (David Blough – 2018).
Despite splitting time at points of the season, O'Connell has thrown for 3,177 yards (17th nationally) and 23 touchdowns (25th nationally). The gunslinger has produced five 300-yard games, the first Purdue quarterback to accomplish the feat since Blough in 2016.
O'Connell's last five games have been stellar to say the least, averaging 372 yards through the air, completing 76.5 percent of his passes (169-221) and tossing 18 touchdowns without an interception. That includes a pair of 400-yard contests. Against Michigan State (Nov. 6), O'Connell threw for a career-best 536 yards on 40-of-54 passing with three scores to lead the Boilermakers to a 40-29 upset victory. Passing for 423 yards in the win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field two weeks later (Nov. 20), he became just the sixth Purdue quarterback to record multiple 400-yard games in a season.
Five other Boilermakers on the offensive side of the ball earned honorable mention accolades: Payne Durham, Gus Hartwig, Greg Long, Tyler Witt and Milton Wright.
The trio of Hartwig (center), Long (left tackle) and Witt (right guard) has been a staple on the Purdue offensive line all season long. Hartwig and Witt have started all 12 games for the Boilermakers, while Long has made 11 starts protecting the quarterback's blindside. With the help of their blocking, Purdue has set a new school record for completions in a single season (381), snapping the 23-year old record of 377 with one game still to play. The three Boilermakers also protect the second-best passing offense in the Big Ten, as Purdue averages 340.4 yards per game through the air.
Also an honoree for sportsmanship around the conference, Durham was tabbed honorable mention. The Purdue tight end has caught 40 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns, ranking fourth on the team in all three categories. In the season opener against Oregon State (Sept. 4), Durham produced his first career 100-yard game with seven catches for a career-high 120 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 100-yard performance versus Wisconsin (Oct. 23), hauling in a personal-best nine receptions for 112 yards and a score.
Alongside Bell, Wright has had a strong 2021 season of his own. The Boilermaker wide receiver has tallied 732 yards on 57 catches. His seven receiving touchdowns leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Wright had a career day against Northwestern (Nov. 20), hauling in eight receptions for 213 yards and three touchdowns to earn career highs in all three categories. The performance was Wright's first multi-touchdown game of his career, and he joined Bell as Boilermaker wide receivers recording a trio of receiving touchdowns in a game this season. In fact, only four other Big Ten receivers have scored at least three touchdowns in a game during the 2021 campaign.
In total, 14 Boilermakers earned recognition from the Big Ten heading into the postseason.
Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year
David Bell – WR
First Team All-B1G
David Bell – WR
George Karlaftis – DL
Second Team All-B1G
Aidan O'Connell – QB
B1G Honorable Mention
Jaylan Alexander – LB
Cam Allen – S
Brandon Deen – DT
Payne Durham – TE
Mitchell Fineran – K
Jalen Graham – LB/S
Gus Hartwig – OL
Greg Long – OL
Dedrick Mackey – CB
Tyler Witt – OL
Milton Wright – WR
B1G Sportsmanship Award
Payne Durham – TE