47 Days to Purdue Football: Jeff Marks & Brendan Cropsey

My apologies for getting the wrong players earlier today, so take 2.

Brendan Cropsey - Fr. (RS)

Saline, MI (Saline HS)

6’, 190 pounds

Punter

2021 Projection: Reserve

The life of a specialist is hard, especially as a walk-on. There is usually one scholarship guy at your position and it is tough get past someone that has that investment in them from the program. As a true freshman last year Cropsey didn’t expect to play much, but against Nebraska he found himself back for Purdue’s first punt because of the struggles Brooks Cormier had to that point.

It did not go well.

Before Purdue fans could say, “Who is that,” Cropsey’s first career punt was blocked and returned to the one yard line. Nebraska would score on the next play. A block is mostly on the line in front of him, and Zac Collins, who replaced him for the next kick, didn’t fair much better as his punt a few moments later was returned deep into Purdue territory.

Cropsey’s debut was rough, but he will be in the mix to punt this year. Cormier is gone, but Collins is still around. Purdue also got a commitment from Australian Jack Ansell to fulfill the new college football requirement that each team have an Australian punter. Ansell is probably the favorite to play, but Cropsey will get a look.

Jeff Marks - Jr.

Mobile, AL (Davidson HS)

6’3”, 280 pounds

Defensive Line

2021 Projection: Reserve

Coming to us from the very far end of I-65, Marks is a player that has been around a while. He did not play last year, making it officially a redshirt year, but he played as a true freshman in 2018. he saw action as a reserve in all 13 games and got 3 tackles. In 2019 his playing time dropped to just two games with a solo tackle against Maryland.

Since this is year four we need Marks to be ready to go. Purdue is thin on the defensive line, especially at tackle. We need him to play as a rotation player if only for depth purposes.