NEW YORK, N.Y. – Looking to get back on the field following season-ending injuries in 2023, wide receiver Jahmal Edrine and tight end Max Klare were named to the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List ahead of the 2024 campaign. Purdue was one of only three Big Ten programs to have multiple players on the watch list announced by the College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Edrine transferred to Purdue from FAU in 2023 and looked to be one of the Boilermakers' top receivers during Ryan Walters' first season as head coach. However, the wideout suffered an injury during the first week of fall camp that forced him to miss the entire season. The last time Edrine was on the field, he tallied 39 catches for 570 yards and six touchdowns during the 2022 season for FAU.
Klare was a go-to target for quarterback Hudson Card at the start of last season, hauling in 22 receptions for 196 yards through the first five games. At the time, he ranked third among the nation's tight ends in catches, leading all freshmen, and his receiving yardage ranked second nationally by freshman tight ends. Klare caught eight passes for 64 yards in the victory over Virginia Tech, both team highs and the most receiving yards by a freshman tight end since Brycen Hopkins recorded 80 against Iowa in 2016. The Guilford, Indiana, native added five catches for a career-high 65 yards one week later against Syracuse. However, in the victory over Illinois, Klare suffered a season-ending injury to cut his strong start short.
Both Boilermakers have been on the field for the first week of fall camp, ready to return to competition and provide sparks to the Purdue offense in 2024. The Boilermakers begin the season at home, welcoming Indiana State to Ross-Ade Stadium (Aug. 31). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Edrine transferred to Purdue from FAU in 2023 and looked to be one of the Boilermakers' top receivers during Ryan Walters' first season as head coach. However, the wideout suffered an injury during the first week of fall camp that forced him to miss the entire season. The last time Edrine was on the field, he tallied 39 catches for 570 yards and six touchdowns during the 2022 season for FAU.
Klare was a go-to target for quarterback Hudson Card at the start of last season, hauling in 22 receptions for 196 yards through the first five games. At the time, he ranked third among the nation's tight ends in catches, leading all freshmen, and his receiving yardage ranked second nationally by freshman tight ends. Klare caught eight passes for 64 yards in the victory over Virginia Tech, both team highs and the most receiving yards by a freshman tight end since Brycen Hopkins recorded 80 against Iowa in 2016. The Guilford, Indiana, native added five catches for a career-high 65 yards one week later against Syracuse. However, in the victory over Illinois, Klare suffered a season-ending injury to cut his strong start short.
Both Boilermakers have been on the field for the first week of fall camp, ready to return to competition and provide sparks to the Purdue offense in 2024. The Boilermakers begin the season at home, welcoming Indiana State to Ross-Ade Stadium (Aug. 31). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.