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Today is the first day of Big Ten Media Days. We don’t have anyone in Chicago aside from friend of the blog Paul Banks, but we’ll have a post up to follow coach Brohm’s remarks scheduled for 1:45pm ET. In the meantime, here are two more players for the countdown.
Brennan Thieneman - So.
Noblesville, IN (Guerin Catholic HS)
6’1”, 200 pounds
Safety
2018 Projection: Reserve at Safety and Special Teams ace
Last season Brennan’s older brother Jacob has a breakout season. Both of the Thieneman brothers started as walk-ons (We believe Jacob is now on scholarship) and Jacob was 3rd on the team in tackles with 80 last season in addition to a pair of interceptions. One of those interceptions clinched the bowl win over Arizona.
Brennan, who was a redshirt freshman last season, is definitely following in big brother’s footsteps. The walk-on saw action last year as a reserve at safety, but played mostly on special teams. He had one tackle on the year. This season he will definitely be a special teams ace and he could factor into the two-deep at safety.
Zac Collins - Fr. (RS)
Louisville, KY (St. Xavier HS)
6’1”, 190 pounds
Kicker
2018 Projection: Reserve at Kicker
Purdue technically has five placekickers on the roster. At a position where one guy generally holds on to the job for years, that’s a lot of depth. Collins walked on to the team last year and is basically waiting for Spencer Evans and J.D. Dellinger to get out of the way. He was a Second Team all-State kicker at Louisville St. Xavier and was a top 10 punting prospect. His brother was even coach Brohm’s punter at Western Kentucky. With Joe Schopper graduating this year Collins could potentially find a role at punter next season.
If he can’t catch on as a kicker or a punter coach Wasikowski over at Alexander Field might give him a call. He was a promising catcher and second baseman for St. Xavier’s baseball team down in Louisville too.