Tyler Coyle Transfers to Purdue Football

Jeff Brohm has had a lot of success with graduate transfers in his tenure in West Lafayette, so trawling those waters is always a good idea. It is no secret that he has been looking for an offensive lineman, but today he was able to bolster the defense:

Tyler Coyle is a one-year graduate transfer from Connecticut that will be immediately eligible in 2020. If the 2020 season is cancelled (and it might happen, unfortuantely) it means there is a possibility he will be with Purdue when the Boilers travel to UConn September 11, 2021. There is also some familiarity there as new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco was the head coach at UConn during his 2015 redshirt year and 2016 redshirt freshman year.

Coyle was a solid player on a defense that was... not good. Here is what our SB Nation colleagues had to say about it 2018:

Many factors have contributed to the unit’s horrific play, but let’s keep it simple: UConn is historically putrid at playing both the run and the pass.

The run defense is a sieve. UConn is giving up 7.8 yards per carry, easily the worst in the country and comfortably on pace to be the worst by any FBS team since at least ‘08.

The pass defense is just as bad. UConn’s also dead last in yards allowed per pass attempt (11.1) and opponent passer rating (202.2). These are also both comfortably on track to be the worst numbers put up by any FBS team since at least ‘08.

Coyle has been a bright spot for them. He has 11 starts and 35 games in his career with 260 tackles, 3 interceptions, 18 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns. He also served as a kickoff returner during the 2018 season with 13 returns for 287 yards.

Here is an interview with him:

Coyle is coming in to provide veteran leadership in the secondary. His besst season was 2018 where he had 107 tackles. Last year against Navy he had 19 tackles in a game UConn lost 56-10. Last season he saw plenty of action against the Big Ten, as UConn lost to Illinois 31-23 and Indiana 38-3. The Huskies were 6-30 in the three years he played with only three wins against FBS competition.