Depth Charts Boilermaker Defense
Defensive End 1. Ryan Isaac 61
6-5, 294, Jr. 10 tackles, 2 PBU* Isaac broke up a pass on a second down early in the second quarter, helping to force an Indiana field goal. He also contributed one tackle. Phillips also came up with one tackle.
2. Jalani Phillips 89 6-4, 260, So.
Weakside Linebacker 1. Sean Robinson 10
Defensive Tackle 1. Kawann Short 93
6-4, 315, Sr. (5) 42 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 4 PBU, 2 FR, 1 FF, 4 blk kick* Short, a first-team All-Big Ten selec- tion, had six tackles in the win and combined with Bruce Gaston for a TFL loss to force a three-and-out on IU's first possession of the third quarter. He's had a solid season, but perhaps not as spectacular as some would have predicted. 2. Michael Rouse 97 6-4, 295, R-Fr.
6-3, 240, So. 27 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 3 PBU* Robinson had five tackles, but Lucas made one of the big plays of the day when he stripped and recovered a ball for a turnover in the second half. Lucas had his best game of the year, with nine tackles, including three for loss and the takeaway.
2. Will Lucas 45 5-11, 230, Jr.
Cornerback 1. Ricardo Allen 21
5-9, 186, Jr. 44 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 int., 3 PBU, 1 FF* Allen probably didn't have the sea- son he envisoned, with only one interception, but his midseason injuries kept him from playing at his peak. He's seemed to have largely recovered now, and had six tackles, one for loss when he blitzed to blow up a running play.
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. 26 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 FR, 2 FF* Gaston had the half tackle for loss with Short but three other assists. Is he ready to step up to primetime after Short graduates? We'll have to see. But he's been a very solid player this season, when healthy.
2. Ryan Watson 92 6-3, 294, Fr.
Defensive End 1. Ryan Russell 99
6-5, 275, So. 30 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FR* A couple of ankle injuries have kept Russell from turning into the type of player many think he is. But it's been two straight years now that the ankles have bugged him, mak- ing that an offseason priority. Purdue needs him healthy and a consistent pass-rusher. 2. Greg Latta 91 6-6, 265, Jr.
6-1, 227, So. 53 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 FF* Indiana's offense negated some of Gilliam's effective- ness, as the Hoosiers often run outside the tackles, and almost always passed that direction, too. Still, he had three tackles and Higgs added two more.
2. Antwon Higgs 5 6-3, 246, Sr.
Free Safety 1. Taylor Richards 4
Strong Safety
5-10, 192, So. 47 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 6 PBU, 1 punt blk.* Richards had three tackles, including one on the line of scrimmage on the goal line in the third quarter, a play before Indiana scored. Johnson played on defense, too, and also had three tackles.
2. E.J. Johnson 7 6-1, 185, So.
Strongside Linebacker 1. Robert Maci 58
6-4, 249, Sr. (5) 36 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FR, 2 FF* Maci had three tackles vs. IU and broke up a pass to help kill the Hoosiers' final drive of the first half. He lined up at both linebacker and defensive end against Indiana and has largely done well in his dual role this season.
2. Nnamdi Ezenwa 18 6-2, 225, Sr. (5)
1. Landon Feichter 44 6-0, 189, So. 76 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 int., 3 PBU* Feichter ends the regular season as Purdue's leading tackler, which few would have predicted before the year began. He had five tackles against the Hoosiers. Feichter struggled some against more physical opponents, but was usually good in coverage.
2. Max Charlot 34 6-0, 201, Sr.
Cornerback
1. Josh Johnson 28 5-11, 195, Sr. 58 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 3 int., 16 PBU, 2 FR, 3 FF* With two more against IU, Johnson is now four short of tying Purdue's mark for all-time pass breakups. One of his PBUs came on a fourth down in the fourth quarter, IU's last offensive play of the game. Brown was back on the field after missing a game with an injury.
2. Anthony Brown 9 5-11, 185, Fr.
GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 23, EXPRESS 13 • 16
