Former Purdue Football Player Mike Eargle Killed in New Jersey

There is tragic news out of New Jersey tonight. Mike Eargle, a former Purdue football player from Elizabeth, NJ, was shot and killed this afternoon in his hometown:

The victim, Michael Eargle, 28, of Elizabeth, was killed shortly before 5 p.m. near Lafayette Street and Madison Avenue, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said.

The shooting occurred in a busy area of the city's downtown, next to the YMCA and also just a block down from Elizabeth city hall. Two of the city's high schools are also nearby.

Eargle was a defensive back that transferred to Purdue from Lackawanna College, where he also played quarterback. In 2010 he had 7 tackles in 7 games. In 2011 he did not record any stats and he graduated that following spring. He then moved back to New Jersey, where he worked for the city housing authority.

I don’t remember him much because he wasn’t on the field a lot, but he was still a member of the Purdue family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.