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We all know who today’s player is. In roughly 48 hours he might be the guy taking the first snap of the season.
Elijah Sindelar - Jr.
Princeton, KY (Caldwell County HS)
6’4”, 225 pounds
Quarterback
2018 Projection: Starting quarterback
I think Sindelar will be the starter Thursday night. I like David Blough, I really do, but Sindelar was pretty special last year in finishing the season on a torn ACL. All told he threw for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns against 7 interceptions with a 56.8% completion rate. The two advantages that Blough has are completion rate (65) and mobility (103 yards rushing and 2 TDs vs. -76 yards). I think Sindelar has hte higher ceiling in this offense, however.
Sindelar played in every game last season except agaisnt Nebraska. That’s impressive considering he tore his ACL againsr Northwestern. He still threw for 376 yards and 2 TDs in that game. In the last three games (all wins) he threw for 784 yards and 9 TDs with only one interception. His bowl performance is one of the best in Purdue history with 396 yards (a career high) and four touchdowns.
Should Elijah start on Thursday it will be hte first time since 2008 Purdue has had the same starting quarterback on day 1 in consecutive years. If Blough starts we won’t be able to say that until at least 2021, as it would likely mean Sindelar starts next season, then either Nick Sipe or Jack Plummer in 2021.
That is one of the nice things aobut Purdue’s situation, however. Injuries unfortunately happen. Last year’s ACL tear was Elijah’s second, as he tore it originally on the final play of his record breaking high school career. Like Rondale Moore, he was the Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year in 2014. Even if he does not start this year he is a more than accomplished backup for Blough. Because he is a junior he is virtually certain to start in 2019 as well.