/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51508643/usa-today-9625764.0.jpg)
Last week at Nebraska the Cornhuskers wore Purdue down at defensive tackle. The Purdue line was solid in the first half, but a lack of depth and rotations allowed Nebraska to change things around after halftime. We’ll see if there is an adjustment there this week, as a few guys are listed on the depth chart but not playing. First, let’s look at the offense:
Offense
WR 7 DeAngelo Yancey, Sr., 6-2, 205, Atlanta, Ga.
21 Anthony Mahoungou, Jr., 6-3, 210, Paris, France
WR 18 Cameron Posey, 5th, 6-1, 192, Boca Raton, Fla.
10 Gregory Phillips, Jr., 6-0, 201, Lithonia, Ga.
LT 66 Cameron Cermin, 5th, 6-5, 323, College Station, Texas
55 Michael Mendez, R-Fr., 6-4, 305, Los Fresnos, Texas
75 Jalen Neal, Jr., 6-8, 315, Tempe, Ariz.
LG 72 Jason King, 5th, 6-4, 310, Little Rock, Ark.
55 Michael Mendez, R-Fr., 6-4, 305, Los Fresnos, Texas
C 53 Kirk Barron, So., 6-2, 300, Mishawaka, Ind.
68 Peyton Truitt, R-Fr., 6-5, 296, West Lafayette, Ind.
RG 70 Jordan Roos, 5th, 6-4, 301, Celina, Texas
55 Michael Mendez, R-Fr., 6-4, 305, Los Fresnos, Texas
RT 79 Matt McCann, R-Fr., 6-6, 314, Fishers, Ind.
75 Jalen Neal, Jr., 6-8, 315, Tempe, Ariz.
TE 88 Cole Herdman, So., 6-4, 251, Leesburg, Va.
89 Brycen Hopkins, R-Fr., 6-5, 239, Nashville, Tenn.
WR 3 Bilal Marshall, 5th, 6-2, 201, Miami, Fla.
13 Terrance Landers, Fr., 6-4, 200, Dayton, Ohio
QB 11 David Blough, So., 6-1, 200, Carrollton, Texas
2 Elijah Sindelar, R-Fr., 6-4, 236, Princeton, Ky.
RB 8 Markell Jones, So., 5-11, 210, Columbus, Ind.
37 Brian Lankford-Johnson, Fr., 6-0, 195, St. Paul, Minn.
or 36 Richie Worship, R-Fr., 6-1, 245, Cleveland, Ohio
Worship and Mendez are the big official changes this week. Worship has been getting more carries than Tario Fuller for several weeks now, but this is his first time officially listed on the depth chart. As for Mendez, the redshirt freshman has been a pleasant surprise as he has even made a start at tackle and has provided much-needed depth with Martesse Patterson still in limbo. Mendez will likely be a full-time starter next season somewhere along the line, so him getting some PT this year is huge.
Now, let’s look at the defense:
Defense
DT 54 Jake Replogle, Sr., 6-5, 275, Centerville, Ohio
9 Lorenzo Neal, Fr., 6-2, 345, Houston, Texas
NG 18 Eddy Wilson, So., 6-4, 300, Pontiac, Mich.
9 Lorenzo Neal, Fr., 6-2, 345, Houston, Texas
DE 95 Evan Panfil, Sr., 6-5, 270, New Lenox, Ill.
45 Austin Larkin, Jr., 6-3, 259, University City, Mo.
DE 13 Gelen Robinson, Jr., 6-1, 275, Schererville, Ind.
45 Austin Larkin, Jr., 6-3, 259, University City, Mo.
Will 21 Markus Bailey, R-Fr., 6-1, 235, Columbus, Ohio
42 Andy James Garcia, 5th, 6-0, 223, Miami, Fla.
Mike 4 Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jr., 6-2, 250, Glenarden, Md.
16 Garrett Hudson, Jr., 6-2, 245, Tallahassee, Fla.
Buck 36 Danny Ezechukwu, Jr., 6-2, 240, Lithonia, Ga.
29 Jimmy Herman, 5th, 6-4, 240, Carmel, Ind.
LCB 2 Da’Wan Hunte, Jr., 5-9, 188, Miami, Fla.
23 Josh Hayes, Fr., 6-0, 181, Indianapolis, Ind.
SS 3 Leroy Clark, Sr., 5-10, 197, Miami, Fla.
26 C.J. Parker, Jr., 6-2, 205, Menifee, Calif.
FS 27 Navon Mosley, Fr., 6-0, 181, Bloomfield, Mich.
26 C.J. Parker, Jr., 6-2, 205, Menifee, Calif.
RCB 24 Tim Cason, 5-11, 195, Clarkston, Mich.
6 Myles Norwood, Jr., 6-0, 174, Arlington, Texas
Purdue desperately needs Jake Replogle back. He has missed the last three games due to concussion symptoms, and the Boilers went almost exclusively with Wilson and Neal at the tackle spots last week. Alex Criddle only played a handful of snaps, and senior Langston Newton has been getting no time at all. Purdue went almost exclusively with a Neal-Wilson-Panfil-Robinson front and appeared gassed late as a result. SOMEONE needs to be able to play 10-15 snaps just to give guys a rest. Where are Antoine Miles, Shayne Henley, Wyatt Cook, or others? What happened to Keiwan Jones, who had a solid fall camp?
At safety, Parker has all but completely replaced Robert Gregory at safety. Josh Hayes seems to be the third corner now, and Brandon Roberts’ mysterious suspension continues. Purdue did play a lot more 4-3 at Nebraska and, huzzah! It was successful!
Specialists
Punter 31 Joe Schopper, So., 6-0, 196, Indianapolis, Ind.
96 Jake Herr, R-Fr., 6-5, 220, Carmel, Ind.
Placekicker 85 J.D. Dellinger, Fr., 6-2, 190, Charlotte, N.C.
43 Myles Homan, R-Fr., 6-1, 220, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kickoffs 85 J.D. Dellinger, Fr., 6-2, 190, Charlotte, N.C.
43 Myles Homan, R-Fr., 6-1, 220, Cincinnati, Ohio
Long Snapper 65 Ben Makowski, So., 6-2, 252, Osceola, Ind.
48 Ryan Sadkowski, So., 5-11, 260, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Holder 31 Joe Schopper, So., 6-0, 196, Indianapolis, Ind.
11 David Blough, So., 6-1, 200, Carrollton, Texas
Kickoff Returns 22 Jack Wegher, Fr., 5-9, 205, Sioux City, S.D.
and 37 Brian Lankford-Johnson, Fr., 6-0, 195, St. Paul, Minn.
Punt Returns 9 Malik Kimbrough, Jr., 6-0, 172, San Jacinto, Calif.
18 Cameron Posey, 5th, 6-1, 192, Boca Raton, Fla.
Freshman Jack Wegher saw his first career action as a kick returner against Nebraska, so his redshirt is now burned. He did return one kick for 19 yards, and he is replacing Malik Kimbrough there. Purdue certainly needs a spark there, as it averages only 19 yards per return. He joins Josh Hayes, Lorenzo Neal, Alex Criddle, J.D. Dellinger, Brian Lankford-Johnson, Navon Mosley, and Terrance Landers as true freshmen that have played.