Depth Charts Boilermaker Defense
Minnesota Offense LT 58 Ed Olson
C
52 Zac Epping 62 Zach Mottla
RG 64 Caleb Bak 73 Joe Bjorklund
RT 65 Josh Campion 77 Foster Bush
QB 9 Philip Nelson 5 MarQueis Gray
OR 11 Max Shortell
Defensive End 1. Ryan Isaac 61
74 Marek Lenkiewicz 6-5, 281, So. 6-7, 312, Jr.
LG 63 Jon Christenson 6-4, 288, R-Fr. 53 Tommy Olson
6-4, 298, So. 6-2, 306, So.
6-2, 287, Jr. 6-3, 294, So.
6-5, 293, R-Fr. 6-5, 309, R-Fr.
6-5, 303, R-Fr. 6-2, 222, Fr.
6-5, 250, Sr. 6-6, 237, So.
RB 20 Donnell Kirkwood 5-10, 219, So. 4 KJ Maye
TE 83 Drew Goodger 47 Alex Bisch
WR 14 Isaac Fruechte OR 82 A.J. Barker
5-10, 190, Fr. 6-5, 255, So.
6-6, 249, So. 6-3, 205, So.
6-1, 191, Jr.
WR 80 Devin Crawford-Tufts 6-2, 194, So. 12 Andre McConald 6-2, 200, Fr.
WR 15 Marcus Jones 18 Derrick Engel
5-8, 172, So. 6-2, 182, Jr.
* 2012 Statistics RED: Change PURPLE: Missed time due to injury INTERACTIVE: Click the pictures and/or names for player pages at GoldandBlack. com
— Kyle Charters
6-5, 294, Jr., 4 tackles, 1 PBU* Isaac wasn't in the starting lineup vs. Ohio State, as Purdue went with a nickel formation that included Robert Maci as a defensive end. Isaac played but didn't contribute a statistic. Phillips had a downfield tackle after OSU converted a long third down. 2. Jalani Phillips 89 6-4, 260, So.
Weakside Linebacker 1. Will Lucas 45
Defensive Tackle 1. Kawann Short 93
6-4, 315, Sr. (5) 23 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FF, 4 blk kick* Short and Co. allowed OSU very little running room between the tackles. Why did the Buckeyes keep trying? Short had three tackles and recovered a fumble on Ohio State's first possession. He did get called for a late hit at the end of the first half. 2. Michael Rouse 97 6-4, 395, R-Fr.
5-11, 230, Jr., 35 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 int., 1 PBU, 1 FR, 2 FF* Lucas will likely be back as the starter vs. Minnesota, but he was the backup Saturday. Robinson got a last-minute call at Ohio State, the first defensive start of his career, and made four stops. Lucas came in as a reserve and had a couple tackles.
2. Sean Robinson 10 6-3, 240, So.
Cornerback 1. Ricardo Allen 21
5-9, 186, Jr. 20 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 int., 1 PBU* Allen missed the first game of his career, sit- ting out with ankle and shin injuries. He's questionable for Purdue's game at Minnesota. Williams appeared to play well in Allen's place, making four tackles and a breaking up a pass. 2. Frankie Williams 6 5-9, 186, R-Fr.
Middle Linebacker 1. Joe Gilliam 39
Defensive Tackle 1. Bruce Gaston Jr. 90
6-2, 303, Jr. 14 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 FR* Gaston came up with a huge play, when he fought to recover a fumble at the bottom of a pile late in the third quarter, preserving a six-point lead. He also made two tackles. Taylor played but didn't record a stat.
2. Brandon Taylor 55 6-1, 295, Jr.
6-1, 227, So. 28 tackles, 1 FF* Gilliam had five tackles, but more impor- tantly he forced a fumble in the third quarter, giving Purdue the ball when it had the lead. Higgs had a good game too, with four tackles, many of them big hits on Braxton Miller.
2. Antwon Higgs 5 6-3, 246, Sr.
Free Safety 1. Taylor Richards 4
Strong Safety
5-10, 192, So. 25 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 punt blk.* Richards might be taking another step forward for the Boilermakers; he had seven tackles and tipped away the ball that was inter- cepted by Landon Feichter with less than three minutes left.
2. E.J. Johnson 7 6-1, 185, So.
Defensive End 1. Ryan Russell 99
6-5, 275, So. 20 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 PBU* Perhaps a sign that he's finally healthy again, Russell looked more active than he has in weeks. He made six tack- les with a sack against the Buckeyes. His third-down sack in the second quarter forced an OSU punt. 2. Greg Latta 91 6-6, 265, Jr.
Strongside Linebacker 1. Robert Maci 58
6-4, 249, Sr. (5) 18 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FF* Maci started as a defensive end, and played there and at linebacker vs. Ohio State. While his tackle totals are significant, he continues to make plays, with a sack – his first this season – among his two tackles. He drew the penalty in the end zone that gave Purdue two points. 2. Nnamdi Ezenwa 18 6-2, 225, Sr. (5)
1. Landon Feichter 44 6-0, 189, So. 41 tackles, 4 int., 2 PBU* Feichter appeared to seal a Purdue victory with his late interception, as the Boilermakers held an eight-point lead. It was his Big Ten-best fourth pick. Feichter also led the Boilers with nine tackles. Charlot also started, as part of Purdue's nickel package. 2. Max Charlot 34 6-0, 201, Sr.
Cornerback
1. Josh Johnson 28 5-11, 195, Sr. 25 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 int., 8 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF* Johnson had four tackles and an interception, when he picked off Braxton Miller's Hail Mary at the end of the first half. He has some thumb injuries, which are affecting him on punt returns but not on defense. Harris didn't play but could be back soon. 2. Normondo Harris 1 6-1, 180, Jr.
GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 23, EXPRESS 8 • 15
