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Purdue football returns TOMORROW, but we have two players to focus on today.
Dedrick Mackey - Sr. (5)
Miami, FL (Booker T. Washington HS)
5’11”, 185 pounds
Cornerback
2021 Projection: Potential Starter
If you look at the 2020 virtual Purdue season I played on NCAA Football ‘14 he had one of the greatest games in college football history with four interceptions against Boston College and nine on the season. He didn’t do that in reality, of course, but he was still a starter in all six games and he finished with 16 tackles and two pass breakups (let’s not talk about the Nebraska game).
He enters the 2021 season as one of Purdue’s most experienced players overall. He has played in 31 games (every single one possible in his career) with 15 starts, 64 tackles, and three interceptions. There is no guarantee he starts though with he transfer of Jamari Brown and the existence of Cory Trice.
He is still going to be a very valuable contributor.
Michael Alaimo - Fr. (RS)
Montvale, NJ (St. Joseph Regional HS)
6’4”, 225 pounds
Quarterback
2021 Projection: Reserve
Alaimo might be a longer term answer at QB depending on how things shake out. There are three upperclassmen ahead of him, but as Alaimo moves up the depth chart he could become “the Guy” for a long time. He is the typical big, strong QB that Jeff Brohm likes and was a 4-star recruit in high school and the No. 3 pocket passer in the 2020 class per ESPN.
I guess the ideal situation is that Plummer explodes with a great year this year and becomes the guy for this season and next. That allows Alaimo to mature and heralded recruit Brady Allen to redshirt in 2022, making for a great competition in 2023.
Jeff Brohm needs someone to just be “the Guy” at quarterback, especially in the long run. It may not be Alaimo this year, but his time is coming.