Countdown to Northwestern-Purdue football kickoff: Senior Day, Big Ten West scenarios
WEST LAFAYETTE – Welcome to Countdown to Kickoff prior to Saturday’s matchup between Northwestern and Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium:
What you need to know – and it’s not all game related.
The latest
As of Thursday, here’s the injury report:
Out: Linebacker Clyde Washington (there’s a group of players who’ve been out most of the season that we’ve mentioned before. No need to repeat)
Game-time decisions: Linebacker Kieren Douglas, defensive tackle Branson Deen.
Linebacker update
The position was hit with injuries in the Illinois win, but Douglas is expected to be in uniform. However, with Washington out, look for the main linebackers to be O.C. Brothers, Jacob Wahlberg and Semisi Fakasiieiki. Ben Kreuel and Yanni Karlaftis could also play.
Final timeLast home game at Ross-Ade Stadium brings reflection to Purdue seniors
DL options
If Deen is unavailable, Cole Brevard and Sulaiman Kpaka are expected to split time at the position next to Lawrence Johnson.
Senior Day
Purdue has 27 seniors on the roster and around 25 players are expected to go through the pregame festivities. And just because a player goes through the ceremony doesn’t mean they won’t return in 2023. COVID-19 seasons are still a thing.
The list as of Thursday:
Jack Albers, Cam Allen, Jamari Brown, Austin Burton, Camdyn Childers, Cam Craig, Kieran Douglas, Payne Durham, Semisi Fakasiieiki, Mitchell Fineran, Jalen Graham, Bryce Hampton, Lawrence Johnson, Charlie Jones, Kobe Lewis, Alex Maxwell, Eric Miller, Aidan O’Connell, Paul Piferi, Jack Sullivan, Broc Thompson, Cory Trice, Chris Van Eekeren, DJ Washington and Nick Zecchino.
Winning the West
Easy scenario for Purdue.
Win the last two games and the Boilermakers gain at least a share of the division title. To play in the conference championship game, two wins and an Iowa loss to either Minnesota or Nebraska and Purdue goes to Indianapolis.
Got it.
Illinois, Minnesota and even Wisconsin remain alive but need help. The Illini and the Gophers need the Boilermakers to lose, along with winning both of their games, and the Badgers must root for several scenarios to join the conversation.
Second time
After beating Indiana last year on Senior Day, O’Connell was interviewed by TV and was asked about playing his final game at Ross-Ade Stadium. At the time, he didn’t know if he was coming back for another season.
“I got interviewed on the field and the guy was like, ‘Last home game at Ross-Ade; how are you feeling?’ It was kind of a weird experience,” O’Connell said.
Super 6
The Boilermakers started the season using an eight-man rotation on the offensive line.
The number was cut to six after injuries to Cam Craig and Daniel Johnson. As Purdue plays its final two regular-season games, the number has remained at six.
The group – center Gus Hartwig, guards Spencer Holstege, Marcus Mbow and Sione Finau along with tackles Eric Miller and Mahamane Moussa – didn’t allow a sack against Illinois, which featured the top defense in the nation.
“It was great to see them do a really good job this past week against a good defense and not give up any sacks,” Brohm said. “Obviously that's on everybody. Aidan got the ball out quickly at times, but our offensive line has worked hard all year long.
“A lot of guys are banged up just like every team. They continue to play through things that we have, and we got to hope that we can continue with those six the rest of the way.”
How the offensive line is playing has also caught the attention of Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald.
"What jumps out is the way their offensive line’s playing," Fitzgerald said. "They’re really physical and doing a lot of things I think really well."
Jones milestone
Purdue receiver Charlie Jones became the first Big Ten receiver to surpass the 1,000-yard mark last week at Illinois. Jones, who transferred from Iowa in the offseason, has 1,010 yards with at least three games left, including the bowl.
His Big Ten-leading 87 catches are 23 more than Illinois receiver Isaiah Williams.
"Charlie Jones, we competed against when he was at Iowa," Fitzgerald said. "He has 87 catches for about five million yards and is having a great year and a great finish to his career."
XFL
Jeff Brohm didn’t get drafted again, but a handful of his former players have an opportunity to continue their careers in the league.
Receiver/running back Jackson Anthrop (Arlington); receiver Terry Wright (San Antonio); offensive linemen Tyler Witt (DC Defenders) and Greg Long (DC Defenders); defensive lineman Gelen Robinson (St. Louis).
“Everybody wants to play football for as long as they can,” Brohm said. “I’m sure it will be a fun league; it was when I played.”
Brohm became a popular player in the XFL when he coined the phrase, ‘Let’s Play Football.’ Brohm, though, wasn’t selected in the current draft.
“If my back was a little better, I would try to put my name in there and have a little fun with it,” he said. “The others will probably do a lot better job than me now.”
Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier and USA Today Sports Network. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @carmin_jc
Northwestern (1-9, 1-6) at Purdue (6-4, 4-3)
Saturday
Time: Noon
TV: Fox Sports 1
Radio: WAZY (96.5)
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Countdown to Northwestern-Purdue football kickoff: Senior Day, Big Ten West scenarios
