The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1265378
THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 135 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Purdue missed out on bowl games from 2013-16, and then head coach Jeff Brohm took over. The former XFL star and West- ern Kentucky head man brought excitement back to the program, leading the Boilermak- ers to bowl games in 2017 and 2018. However, his club took a step in the wrong direction last season with a 4-8 record and hopes to get its trajectory back on track in 2020. The Boilermakers have the weapons to do so. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Ron- dale Moore was a consensus first-team All- American as a freshman in 2018, after rack- ing up 114 receptions for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding two rushing scores. The 5-9, 180-pounder was banged up for most of last season, only participating in the first four contests before suffering a leg injury. While Moore was out, another Purdue wideout was making a name for himself. Sophomore David Bell hauled in 86 catches for 1,035 yards and seven touchdowns en route to winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and being recognized as a Freshman All-American by the Associated Press (AP). Bell and Moore are the perfect comple- ment to each other, with Bell being five inches taller at 6-2. The duo is truly one of the nation's best pairs, with Pro Football Fo- cus ranking Bell as the 15th-best and Moore the fifth-best returning receivers in college football for the 2020 season. The two will lead an offense that racked up 309.9 yards per game through the air last season to rank 12th nationally. The Gold and Black return two quarter- backs that played significant roles a year ago, with redshirt sophomore Jack Plummer leading the way. He completed 144 of 241 passes for 1,603 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in six starts. Redshirt sophomore Aidan O'Connell also got some run, starting three games and connecting on 103 of 164 throws for 1,101 yards with eight touchdowns and four picks. The two will compete with UCLA gradu- ate transfer Austin Burton, but Plummer is expected to win the position. Defensively, the Boilermakers will have a new look under first-year coordinator Bob Diaco. He inherits a unit that finished 13th in the Big Ten in total defense (436.3 yards allowed per game), and 12th in scoring de- fense (30.6 points), rushing defense (192.5 yards) and passing defense (243.8 yards). Purdue will be strong on the defensive front, led by sophomore end George Kar- laftis and fifth-year senior tackle Lorenzo Neal. Karlaftis was placed on the All-Big Ten second team in 2019 and was also named a first-team Freshman All-America by the AP. The 6-4, 265-pounder totaled 54 stops, 17.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and one interception on the season. Neal, the son of former NFL All-Pro full- back Lorenzo Neal Sr., did not play last sea- son due to injury. However, in 2018, he was one of the country's top interior defensive linemen, with ESPN analyst Todd McShay projecting him to be a first-round pick in the 2020 draft ahead of the 2019 season. In his three years of playing, he has recorded 63 tackles, 11.5 stops for loss, 4.0 sacks and four forced fumbles. The situation at linebacker is murky, while the secondary appears to be improving. Red- shirt sophomore safety Cory Trice saw ac- tion in 11 games last season, with just three starts, but appears ready to break out after playing a big role as a sub-package player. He posted 35 tackles, four passes broken up and three interceptions. The return of Moore and Neal from inju- ries, coupled with increased production from other ascending players, should give Purdue a chance to finish in the top three in the Big Ten West division. Notes Purdue's average of 309.9 passing yards per game was No. 1 in the Big Ten and 12th in the country last season … Junior college safety DaMarcus Mitchell has joined the Boilermakers and will provide the ability to cover receivers and make tackles in the box, evidenced by his 71 stops last season at Southwest Mississippi Community College … Fifth-year senior kicker J.D. Dellinger returns after making 13 of 16 field goal at- tempts last season, including a career-long 53-yarder. ❑ Boilermakers Boast One Of The Nation's Best Receiver Duos 2020 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2019 Result Sept. 5 at Nebraska W, 31-27 Sept. 12 Memphis — Sept. 19 Air Force — Sept. 26 at Boston College — Oct. 10 Rutgers — Oct. 17 at Illinois L, 24-6 Oct. 24 at Michigan — Oct. 31 Northwestern W, 24-22 Nov. 7 at Minnesota L, 38-31 Nov. 14 Wisconsin L, 45-24 Nov. 21 Iowa L, 26-20 Nov. 28 at Indiana L, 44-41 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Rondale Moore, R-So., WR Was the Big Ten's Wide Receiver of the Year and the Paul Hornung Award recipient as the nation's most versatile player in 2018 … Holds the Purdue record for most all-purpose yards in a single season (2,215) … ESPN's Todd McShay has Moore as a first-round pick in his latest 2021 NFL mock draft. Defense: George Karlaftis, So., DE His 17.0 tackles for loss last season tied for the third-most in the Big Ten and tied for 21st in the country … He also broke up a pair of passes, had an interception, recovered two fumbles and forced another. Sophomore wideout David Bell (above) was Purdue's second straight Big Ten Freshman of the Year honoree, following fellow receiver Rondale Moore, who won the award in 2018. PHOTO COURTESY PURDUE ATHLETICS PURDUE BOILERMAKERS • OCT. 24 • GAME 8 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 45-14 First Meeting: U-M 34, Purdue 6 (Nov. 1, 1890 at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 28, Purdue 10 (Sept. 23, 2017 at West Lafayette, Ind.) Head Coach: Jeff Brohm, 17-21 (4th year) at Purdue and 47-31 overall (7th year) 2019 In Review: 4-8, 3-6 Big Ten (5th West) Final 2019 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 18 (8 offense, 7 defense, 3 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 (Music City Bowl vs. Auburn, L 63-14) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Jack Plummer (1,603 yards, 11 TD, 8 INT) Rushing: King Doerue (451 yards, 5 TD) Receiving: David Bell (1,035 yards, 7 TD) Tackles: Derrick Barnes (63) Sacks: Barnes and George Karlaftis (7.5) Interceptions: Dedrick Mackey and Cory Trice (3)