Purdue Boilermakers:
After a 4-8 finish in his debut, Purdue coach Ryan Walters was dealt a few bad cards. The team’s top offensive player, wide receiver Deion Burks, transferred to Oklahoma while the top defensive player, Nic Scourton, left for Texas A&M. On top of those personnel losses, the Boilermakers must contend with one of the nation’s toughest schedules. A Big Ten media poll picked Purdue last in the 18-team league. The honeymoon phase in West Lafayette is over for Walters.
Offense
Texas transfer Hudson Card battled through injuries to pass for 2,387 yards and rush for 203 yards while accounting for 20 total touchdowns. The highlight of his season was a game-winning drive against Indiana. Card was a highly-touted recruit for the Longhorns and he’s got the ability to put together a big year. He’s also got talent to work with in running backs Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love (Illinois transfer) and transfer wideouts C.J. Smith (Georgia), Kam Brown (UCLA) and Jahmal Edrine (Florida Atlantic). An above-average line is anchored by center Gus Hartwig, who ranks among the league’s best. The Boilermakers showed some explosiveness by averaging 42.7 points in victories over Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana. Burks was a star, but the offense looks better on paper this year.
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Defense
Walters was a standout defensive coordinator at Illinois before landing the Purdue job, but his defense needs some work after allowing 38 points or more in losses to Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Fresno State. Without Scourton, who was the Big Ten’s sack leader, veterans Kydran Jenkins and Yanni Karlaftis will need to pressure quarterbacks. The best player on this unit is one of the best defensive players in the nation — sophomore safety Dillon Thieneman had 106 tackles and six interceptions as a freshman. Walters recruited several promising transfers to raise the talent level.
Outlook
Two years after reaching the Big Ten championship game with former coach Jeff Brohm, Purdue is far from a contender. The media forecast of a last-place finish seems harsh because the Boilermakers appear to be more talented than Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern and Michigan State. Walters’ biggest problem is a brutal schedule that includes five road games in league play and adds Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State. The win total is posted at 4 and 4.5, and another four-win finish is more likely than 5-7.
Pick: Under 4.5 Wins
