The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
130 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE A domino effect started by Wiscon- sin hiring former Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell eventually ended with Pur- due replacing Jeff Brohm — who went to his alma mater, Louisville, after Scott Satterfield bolted for the Bearcats' job — with Ryan Walters, former Illinois de- fensive coordinator. The Boilermakers didn't just lose Brohm. There's been a complete over- haul of the roster, after last season's Big Ten West championship and appearance in the conference title game, in which it lost to Michigan, 43-22. Purdue rode an offense that passed for 289-plus yards in eight games and ranked 22nd nationally with 278.8 yards per con- test through the air to its first-ever divi- sion title. Both of the catalysts of that attack are no longer with the team. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell, a two- time All-Big Ten performer, is off to the pros as a fourth-round NFL Draft pick of the Las Vegas Raiders. Texas transfer Hudson Card, a redshirt junior, will take the reins as signal-caller, but there's little depth behind him. He connected on 69.4 percent of his passes for 928 yards and 6 touchdowns against 1 interception in 2022, starting three games (when starter Quinn Ewers was hurt) and appearing in 12. The perfect target for O'Connell, wide receiver Charlie Jones (fourth round) set the school record for receiving yards in a single season (1,361) and had eight 100- yard contests last year, including ver- sus the Wolverines (162). A second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten choice, Jones leaves a huge hole in the receiving corps. Purdue will stick with its pass-happy approach, with Walters having brought in former USC and West Virginia offen- sive coordinator Graham Harrell, who's implemented an air-raid attack. Replacing Jones is a nearly impossible task, but the Boilermakers did turn to the transfer portal to add Marshall wide receiver Corey Gammage. The fifth-year senior racked up 178 catches for 2,239 yards and 13 touchdowns over four sea- sons. Two offensive line starters left through the portal (left guard Spencer Holstege to UCLA and right tackle Eric Miller to Louisville) but three return, and the Boilermakers netted four transfers at the position group. Redshirt sophomore run- ning back Devin Mockobee, who churned out 968 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground last season, provides continuity for the run game. Walters improved Illinois' defense from 114th in the country in total defense the year before he arrived to No. 49 in 2021 and No. 3 in 2022. He'll have to turn things around on that side of the ball in West Lafayette, too. The Boilermakers gave up 27.4 points per game (74th nationally) in a division not known for touting elite offenses. They were especially rough against the pass, giving up 224.9 yards per game (67th) and notching only 2 sacks per con- test (81st). There's optimism the pass rush will improve, though, after the unit applied pressure on only 27.5 percent of drop- backs last season (108th), according to Sports Info Solutions. The strength of the defense lies with a trio of outside line- backers in the new 3-4 scheme — senior Kydran Jenkins (8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks in 2022), redshirt sophomore Kydran Jen- kins (6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) and sophomore Nic Caraway (2 sacks). Purdue brought in help up front, too, with three SEC defensive line transfers. Former Auburn defensive end Jeffrey M'Ba is slated to make the biggest im- pact. He recorded just 7 tackles and 1 sack with the Tigers a year ago, but the Boil- ermakers are banking on the former top- rated junior college prospect's upside. Both starting safeties are back to head- line the back end of the defense. Senior Kane Sanoussi led the team with 72 tackles last season, while fifth-year se- nior Cam Allen checked in third with 49 stops. Notes Under former coach Jeff Brohm, Purdue won 17 games over the last two seasons, its best two- year stretch since 1997-98 (18) … The Boilermakers forced 20 turnovers last season, the 43rd-most in the nation. ❑ Purdue Enters New Era Under Ryan Walters 2023 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2022 Result Sept. 2 Fresno State — Sept. 9 at Virginia Tech — Sept. 16 Syracuse L, 32-29 Sept. 22 Wisconsin L, 35-24 Sept. 30 Illinois W, 31-24 Oct. 7 at Iowa L, 24-3 Oct. 14 Ohio State — Oct. 28 at Nebraska W, 43-37 Nov. 4 at Michigan L, 43-22 Nov. 11 Minnesota W, 20-10 Nov. 18 at Northwestern W, 17-9 Nov. 25 Indiana W, 30-16 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Gus Hartwig, Sr., OL — The 6-foot-5, 310-pound center was named preseason sec- ond-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, after ranking fifth in the conference with a 71.9 overall Pro Football Focus rating in 2022. Defense: Cam Allen, R-Sr., S — Named pre- season third-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, he had 3 interceptions a year ago. GAME 9 • PURDUE BOILERMAKERS • NOV. 4 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 46-14 First Meeting: U-M 34, Purdue 6 (Nov. 1, 1890, in Ann Arbor, Mich.) Last Meeting: U-M 43, Purdue 22 (Dec. 3, 2022, in Indianapolis) Head Coach: Ryan Walters, 0-0 (1st year) at Purdue and overall 2022 In Review: 8-6, 6-3 Big Ten (1st West) Final 2022 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 12 (5 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2022 (Citrus Bowl vs. LSU, L 63-7) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (26 yards) Rushing: Devin Mockobee (968 yards, 9 TD) Receiving: TJ Sheffield (480 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: Sanoussi Kane (72) Sacks: Khordae Sydnor (4.5) Interceptions: Cam Allen and Jamari Brown (3) Redshirt sophomore running back Devin Mocko- bee, a former walk-on, rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown against Michigan in the 2022 Big Ten championship game. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER