Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: PURDUE The Boilermakers defensive interior dominated the line of scrimmage in its 20-17 loss in 2012, holding the Irish to a regular-season low of 53 yards rush- ing on 36 carries. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Ryan Russell recorded a career-high seven tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a sack of quarterback Everett Golson. Last year, Russell led another strong effort with four solo stops (two for loss) while limiting Notre Dame to 49 yards rushing with 7:22 left — until ju- nior Irish running back Cam McDaniel ran out the clock with 10 carries for 42 yards. The tune should be different this year. In its opening game 43-34 win against Mid-American Conference opponent Western Michigan, Purdue surrendered 213 yards rushing and 6.7 yards per carry to the Broncos. Meanwhile, the zone-read element in Notre Dame's rushing attack this season with Golson should provide more running lanes to complement the pass. Still, Russell continues a sterling tradition the past 17 years at Pur- due known as the "Den of Defensive Ends." It began under former coach Joe Tiller in the late 1990s with Ros- evelt Colvin and Chike Okeafor, both of whom played at least 10 years in the NFL. Four more defensive ends were se- lected in the NFL Draft from 2002-04, headlined by Pro Bowl player Shaun Phillips, and since 2007 the Boilermak- ers have produced first-round picks Anthony Spencer (2007) and Ryan Ker- rigan (2011), plus 2008 third-round se- lection Cliff Avril, who starred in last year's Super Bowl win by the Seattle Seahawks. HOME AWAY FROM HOME Whether it's the unique apparel for Fifth-year senior Ryan Russell is the most recent star figure in Purdue's "Den of Defensive Ends." PHOTO COURTESY PURDUE