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When Purdue lost Markus Bailey last season it was a significant blow for a relatively young group of linebackers. That group now needs leaders, and one of them can be today’s player.
Jaylan Alexander - Jr.
Hoffman Estates, IL (Hoffman Estates HS)
6’1”, 235 pounds
Linebacker
2020 Projection: Starter at Linebacker
Alexander has been a contributor from day 1. He avoided a redshirt as a freshman and has played in 23 of 25 possible games in his career, starting eight of them. He had 23 tackles as a freshman and had a season high 8 in the Music City Bowl against Auburn (yes, our defense did in fact tackle someone in that game). Last season he made six starts and had 41 tackles with 6 for loss. He also recovered a fumble. Against both Penn State and Indiana he had 10 tackles.
Jaylan finished strong last year and comes into 2020 as an almost certain starter.