DEfense
VS
Ohio State Offense
LT
74 Jack Mewhort
76 Darryl Baldwin
6-6, 308, Sr.
6-6, 310, Jr.
LG 78 Andrew Norwell
65 Pat Elflein
6-6, 316, Sr.
6-3, 295, Fr.
C
6-3, 297, Sr.
6-2, 290, So.
71 Corey Linsley
50 Jacoby Boren
RG 79 Marcus Hall
65 Pat Elflein
6-5, 315, Sr.
6-3, 295, Fr.
RT 68 Taylor Decker
66 Kyle Dodson
OR 55 Tommy Brown
6-7, 315, So.
6-6, 310, Fr.
6-4, 308, So.
TE
6-6, 252, Jr.
6-6, 255, So.
86 Jeff Heuerman
81 Nick Vannett
WR 9 Devin Smith
83 Michael Thomas
6-1, 198, Jr.
6-3, 202, So.
QB 5 Braxton Miller
13 Kenny Guiton
6-2, 215, Jr.
6-3, 208, Sr.
RB 34 Carlos Hyde
7 Jordan Hall
6-0, 235, Sr.
5-9, 191, Sr.
HB 10 Corey Brown
1 Dontre Wilson
6-0, 190, Sr.
5-10, 180, Fr.
WR 6 Evan Spencer
80 Chris Fields
6-2, 206, Jr.
6-1, 200, Sr.
* 2013 Season Statistics
GREEN: Change from previous projection
RED: Missed time due to injury
INTERACTIVE: Click the pictures and/or names
for player pages at GoldandBlack.com
Defensive End
1. Greg Latta 91
Defensive Tackle
2. Ryan Isaac 61
2. Evan Panfil 95
2. Ra'Zahn Howard 93
6-5, 260, Sr.
19 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 2 PBU*
The two weeks off from game action has probably done Latta well; he had been suffering from
a hamstring injury that prevented him from
playing complete games in recent weeks. It's
hurt his productivity, as well. But perhaps against Ohio State,
he can move more effectively.
6-4, 240, Fr.
Middle Linebacker
1. Joe Gilliam 39
2. Jalani Phillips 89
—OR—
6-5, 270, Jr.
21 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks*
Defensive coordinator Greg
Hudson likes Russell as a "Jack,"
where he's playing more linebacker than defensive end. It
gives the Boilermakers much
more size on the edges of their defense.
Against MSU, both Russell and Phillips played
a significant amount at the same time, giving
Purdue a true 3-4 look.
6-4, 256, Jr.
Cornerback
1. Leroy Clark 3
5-10, 175, Fr.
11 tackles*
Clark has started the last two
games, a surprising development given that Purdue had a
veteran cast returning in the
secondary. But his emergence gives Purdue
the chance to put Ricardo Allen at nickel back,
where he can play more near the line of scrimmage. Clark had a couple tackles vs. MSU, but
allowed a critical third-down conversion too.
6-0, 180, Sr.
6-1, 225, Jr.
20 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 FR*
Although they are listed as an
"or" on Purdue's depth chart,
Gilliam and Robinson are frequently playing together in the
middle of the linebacker corps.
But it's a third name, Ruben Ibarra, who might
have had the biggest impact against the
Spartans, making a surprise appearance and
having four tackles.
1. Sean Robinson 10
6-2, 310, Sr.
32 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks*
Gaston's seen his stock go up after playing on
the edge, where he's less likely to get double
teamed often. Against Michigan State, he twice
drove across the line to gather in Spartan ballcarriers in the backfield. Now, you'd like to see him be more
disruptive in the opponent's passing game.
2. Chuck Ayres 60
6-4, 265, So. — OR —
Jake Replogle 54
6-3, 315, Fr.
Jack
1. Ryan Russell 99
2. Normondo Harris 1
— Kyle Charters
6-4, 292, Sr.
12 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 int.*
The Boilermakers have improved up the middle
since the combination of Isaac and Howard
have taken over full-time as the nose tackles.
Howard is an intriguing prospect; he's not in
optimal playing shape just yet, but takes up a ton of space, and
has come up big in his first two career games.
Defensive Tackle
1. Bruce Gaston Jr. 90
6-4, 240, Fr.
Weakside Linebacker
1. Will Lucas 45
5-11, 236, Sr.
35 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack,
2 PBU*
Lucas has been Purdue's most
consistent linebacker and
who would have thought that
would be the case before the
season started? He had only a couple of tackles against the Spartans, but one came behind
the line of scrimmage.
2. Andy James Garcia 2
5-10, 192, Jr.
38 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 FF*
After slumping in the Nebraska
game, Richards seemed to
bounce back against Michigan
State, tying for game-high
tackle total of six. Still, there's a feeling that he
could be giving more, like he did against Notre
Dame earlier in the season.
2. Anthony Brown 9
5-11, 192, So.
5-9, 186, Sr.
29 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 2 int.,
2 PBU*
Allen was almost exclusively
the nickel back against the
Spartans, subbing out when
the Boilermakers were in four-DB packages.
It was odd seeing him off the field, considering how much he's played in his career. But
Allen seems best-suited for playing in the box,
where he can use his physicality.
6-0, 218, R-Fr.
2. Antoine Lewis 26
Strong Safety
1. Anthony Brown 9
Cornerback
1. Frankie Williams 24
5-10, 185, Jr.
6-3, 240, Jr.
Free Safety
1. Taylor Richards 4
Nickelback
1. Ricardo Allen 21
5-11, 192, So.
38 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 FF*
Brown is getting good starting experience since Landon
Feichter went out with a broken leg. It's been inconsistent,
as probably could be expected from a new
starter, but Michigan State was an upswing.
Let's see if he can be consistent going forward.
2. Evan Feichter 27
5-9, 185, So.
29 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 int., 2 PBU*
Purdue's pass defense has
been pretty good the last two
games, holding Nebraska and
Michigan State to a combined
296 yards through the air. Part of that is poor
QB play by the Huskers and Spartans, but part
is Williams and Co., too. They'll have a truer
test vs. Braxton Miller.
Rob Henry 22
2. Normondo Harris 1
6-0, 187, R-Fr. —OR—
6-1, 205, Sr. (5)
6-0, 180, Sr.
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 8 • 15
