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If you’re looking for a player that has likely earned one of the five scholarships (per the tracking chart I created) that Purdue has open for this season, look at this player.
Kieren Douglas - Sr. (5)
Pickerington, OH (Pickerington Central HS)
6’2”, 240 pounds
Linebacker
2021 Projection: Potential starter
Going from walk-on to starter is always a great story. Douglas has earned his time, jointing the team and not playing for a few years, then getting his first career action in 2019 in eight games as a special teamer. That lead to even more playing time in last year’s abbreviated season. He played in all six games as a reserve linebacker/special teamer and made his first career start against Nebraska. He finished with 13 tackles, and two of them were for loss. considering the troubles Purdue had in getting stops in the backfield, two tackles for loss is big.
He even had a circuitous route to Purdue. His 247 profile says he originally committed to Army, then went to Wake Forest in 2017.
At worst, Douglas is going to be a contributor and I and speculating that he has probably earned one of the open scholarship spots as a fifth year senior. At best, he becomes a quality starter.