WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Following a week off due to spring break on the academic calendar, Purdue Football returned to the practice fields to get back to preparing for the 2022 season. With the temperature reaching into the 70s, the Boilermakers put on the pads and practiced outside in the glistening sun.
Boilermakers took the break as a week off to refresh ahead of the final stretch of spring ball as well as the end of the semester. Players came back focused, looking to build off a successful nine-win season and take the program to new heights in 2022.
"We know what our end goal is, and we're just working towards that right now," said senior running back King Doerue.
After pacing Purdue in rushing a season ago, Doerue returns for his senior season as the leader of the running back room. Doerue teamed with Zander Horvath and Dylan Downing primarily in the backfield, and the trio combined to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 2021. With Horvath setting his sights on the NFL and Downing a rising redshirt-sophomore, Doerue knows he brings the most experience to the group.
"I'm just trying to lead by example and bring the other guys along because at the end of the day, we're going to need everybody," said Doerue.
Doerue's 533 yards on the ground were a team best, but he also caught 20 passes for 156 yards. In a Jeff Brohm offense, running backs need to be able to catch the ball out of the backfield as well.
"He started playing his better football towards the latter part of the season," said running backs coach Chris Barclay. "I'm starting to see some leadership from him now with Zander (Horvath) having moved on. He's the most experienced guy in the room."
The Boilermakers have used multiple running backs during Brohm's tenure, rather than feeding the ball to just one primary back. That approach has not only been a common theme at Purdue, but throughout football due to the game's physicality.
"It's important to have multiple guys that can play," said Barclay. "These days you rarely see one guy playing the whole game, even at the NFL level, because it's such a rugged position."
Along with Doerue and Downing returning, spring and fall practice provide plenty of opportunities for others to step up and play a role in the Purdue backfield.
"It's a collective effort of everyone understanding who we are and how we play, then going out and finding a way to get the job done," said Barclay.
The Boilermakers continue practice throughout the month of March before wrapping up the spring season with the annual spring game, April 9, at Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon and admission is free.
Boilermakers took the break as a week off to refresh ahead of the final stretch of spring ball as well as the end of the semester. Players came back focused, looking to build off a successful nine-win season and take the program to new heights in 2022.
"We know what our end goal is, and we're just working towards that right now," said senior running back King Doerue.
After pacing Purdue in rushing a season ago, Doerue returns for his senior season as the leader of the running back room. Doerue teamed with Zander Horvath and Dylan Downing primarily in the backfield, and the trio combined to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 2021. With Horvath setting his sights on the NFL and Downing a rising redshirt-sophomore, Doerue knows he brings the most experience to the group.
"I'm just trying to lead by example and bring the other guys along because at the end of the day, we're going to need everybody," said Doerue.
Doerue's 533 yards on the ground were a team best, but he also caught 20 passes for 156 yards. In a Jeff Brohm offense, running backs need to be able to catch the ball out of the backfield as well.
"He started playing his better football towards the latter part of the season," said running backs coach Chris Barclay. "I'm starting to see some leadership from him now with Zander (Horvath) having moved on. He's the most experienced guy in the room."
The Boilermakers have used multiple running backs during Brohm's tenure, rather than feeding the ball to just one primary back. That approach has not only been a common theme at Purdue, but throughout football due to the game's physicality.
"It's important to have multiple guys that can play," said Barclay. "These days you rarely see one guy playing the whole game, even at the NFL level, because it's such a rugged position."
Along with Doerue and Downing returning, spring and fall practice provide plenty of opportunities for others to step up and play a role in the Purdue backfield.
"It's a collective effort of everyone understanding who we are and how we play, then going out and finding a way to get the job done," said Barclay.
The Boilermakers continue practice throughout the month of March before wrapping up the spring season with the annual spring game, April 9, at Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon and admission is free.