It's 'do or die' time for Purdue football's Joe Anderson

WEST LAFAYETTE − Joe Anderson anticipated things would go a little differently when he joined Purdue's football program as a transfer from South Carolina.

His sparse playing time for the Gamecocks didn't much increase in his past two seasons as a Boilermaker and now he's a redshirt senior.

"This is do or die for me pretty much," Anderson said after Tuesday's spring practice. "I have two more years of eligibility so I felt like I need to get it now."

More: Purdue football's 'Full go Mo' Omonode takes advantage of opportunity

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive end has been a player coaches have been impressed with this spring.

Though Anderson has never played on a five-man defensive front, he seems to be fitting into it seamelessly.

"He has length. He's got long arms. He's got some height on him, which allows him to separate from blocks and get off of blocks and make tackles when he needs to," Purdue defensive coordinator Kevin Kane said.

Anderson's Purdue highlight to date is a sack against Northwestern at Wrigley Field during the 2021 season.

There's still time to compile many more, but Anderson believes the time is now.

"First two years I didn’t play much. It was hard, but I just kept working," Anderson said. "I kept my head down. I stayed focused and stayed on the course. I did extra in the film room, weight room whatever I needed to do whenever I got my chance I’d be ready."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: It's 'do or die' time for Purdue football's Joe Anderson