34 Days to Purdue Football: Richie Worship & Jonah Williams

Today is a double player day, so let’s get to it.

Richie Worship - Sr. (5)

Cleveland, OH (Valley Forge HS)

6’, 250 pounds

Running Back

2019 Projection: Possible starter at Running Back

Here is hoping that Worship can come back this year at 100%. He missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the 2017 season that required not just one surgery, but two. It was a tough blow for one of the guys who has been a heck of a contributor for two years before that. There is also a chance that he could return next season with a 6th year.

Before last season Worship had rushed for 390 yards and five touchdowns along with 18 receptions for another 122 yards and two more scores. He has some of the most experience of any player in Purdue’s backfield. His best game came against Nebraska in 2017 when he ran for 89 yards and a TD. At Missouri that season he also had a rushing and receiving touchdown.

As one of Purdue’s largest backs, Worship is a physical runner, but he also had surprising quickness for his size. He has also shown great hands in catching passes out of the backfield.

Jonah Williams - So.

West Lafayette, IN (West Lafayette HS)

6’3”, 240 pounds

Linebacker

2019 Projection: Reserve at Linebacker

Purdue has a couple of townies on the roster, and Williams is one of them. He is in his third year with the program after a successful career at West Lafayette HS. He was part of a state runner-up team during his time at West Lafayette, as West Side lost to Indianapolis Chatard in the 2015 Class 3A title game.

Williams’ dad is a Purdue legend, however. Calvin Williams was a record-setting receiver for four seasons at Purdue in the mid-80s and went on to play seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens. His dad is also currently the associate athletics director at Purdue.

There is a very good chance Willams will be a special teams contributor this season, but as a Purdue legacy he will want to make his own mark.