A Glance at Purdue - Offense
QB David Blough should see a rise in stats with offensive-minded coach Jeff Brohm calling the plays.
QUARTERBACK
Returning Starter: David Blough (Jr.)
At A Glance: Blough started all 12 games last season – he has 20 career starts - and led the Big Ten Conference with 279.3 passing yards per game. His 25 passing touchdowns a year ago rank tied for fifth on the Purdue season list, while his 3,352 passing yards are seventh. S
WIDE RECEIVER
Returning Starters: None Other Returning
At A Glance: The position group with the most opportunity to break through, as the Boilermakers lost all of their starters from 2016 to graduation. Gregory Phillips is the most experienced returning wide out, having appeared in 36 career games with eight starts. He has caught 40 passes for 465 yards and two touchdowns over the last three seasons. In his two seasons at Purdue, Anthony Mahougou has posted 21 receptions for 192 yards. Coach Brohm brought in junior college transfers Terry Wright and Isaac Zico, along with Notre Dame graduate transfer Corey Holmes, to shore up the group.
RUNNING BACK
Returning Starters: Markell Jones (Jr.)
At A Glance: Jones, Purdue’s leading rusher the past two seasons, is coming off a sophomore season that saw his gain 616 yards with four touchdowns on 153 carries. He is merely 98 yards away from cracking the all-time top 20 list in career rushing yards at Purdue and is tied for 17th in school history in rushing touchdowns. DJ Knox returns to action after missing the entire 2016 season with a knee injury. As a sophomore in 2015, he rushed 108 times for 408 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Richie Worship, a bigger, change-of-pace running back, had 136 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries in his first collegiate action last year.
TIGHT END
Returning Starter: Cole Herdman (Jr.)
At A Glance: Herdman appeared in all 12 games last season, making 11 starts. He finished the year with 35 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Brycen Hopkins, making his collegiate debut after sitting out the 2015 season as a redshirt, hauled in 10 passes for 183 yards and four TDs. Darius Pittman is an intriguing prospect, entering his freshman year at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Returning Starters: Kirk Barron (Jr.), Matt McCann (So.)
At A Glance: Barron started all 12 games last season at center and was voted a 2017 captain by his teammates early in training camp. McCann, an Academic All-Big Ten selection, appeared in 11 games last year and made 10 starts in his redshirt freshman season. With the departure of four-year starters Jason King and Jordan Roos, a depth issue in the spring the spring was been addressed with the addition of graduate transfers Shane Evans and David Steinmetz. Evans played in 18 games at Northern Illinois and Steinmetz started 31 games in three seasons at Rhode Island.
