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Last season Purdue saw a number of true freshmen see the field, and one of them is today’s first featured player.
Brooks Cormier - So.
Tuscaloosa, AL (American Christian Academy)
6’5”, 220 pounds
Punter
2020 Projection: Starter at Punter
Once again, Purdue topped Nick Saban by pulling a punter out from under his nose in the 2019 class. With Joe “The Show” Schopper graduating following the 2018 season we needed a new punter, so Cormier got the scholarship. Last season was a bit of a rough debut for him though. He split time with walk-on Zac Collins and averaged 40.2 yards per punt on 28 kicks. Six of his kicks were downed inside the 20.
If there is a spring season that battled between Cormier and Collins will likely continue. The pair were almost even (Collins kicked five more times, but was a yard less on average), so the job is likely up for grabs. Since Cormier is on scholarship and Collins is not I would think Cormier has an edge, but Collins is a junior, so a redshirt is possible.
Jack Albers - So.
Louisville, KY (University of Dayton)
6’, 180 pounds
Quarterback
2020 Projection: Reserve at quarterback
Albers is dreaming a dream. After playing in high school at Louisville St. Xavier (the rival of Trinity, home of the Brohm's) he went to Dayton for the 2018 season. He redshirted that year, then saw action in two games last season. In a 59-35 win over Marist he rued 3 times for 16 yards and a touchdown, but did not have a passing attempt.
At St. Xavier he was a dual threat QB and three-year starter. He threw for 2,371 yards with 20 touchdown passes, along with 863 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns as a senior, winning the 2017 state championship. He enters the season way down on the depth chart at Purdue, but has a shot, at least.