2005 Statistics

At the midway point last season, Curtis Painter became the starting QB over now-departed Brandon Kirsch. While Painter's completion percentage (52%) needs to improve, expect him to be a much more qualified starter this time around. Coach Joe Tiller likes what he sees and knows his blue-collar QB got thrown into the fire a season ago. More poised this time around, Painter is likely to continue the great QB tradition in West Lafayette. While not super fast, he can run when called upon, finishing as the team's third leading rusher (4.8 ypc and lost only 38 yards).

RB Jerod Void is finally done after three strong years, so now the job belongs to Kory Sheets, who was having a fantastic spring this year before an ankle injury forced him out. He is also a proven pass catcher out of the backfield. Sheets will have some competition in Anthony Heygood and touted JUCO transfer Jaycen Taylor, making this one of the Boilermaker’s deepest units.

WR Dorien Bryant had an amazing 80 grabs in 2005 and looks to again be their go-to guy as Purdue continues to put a high volume pass catcher on the field. Hopes are that other senior Kyle Ingraham will return from an ankle injury. Other players that have logged playing time running routes will have to be utilized as Tiller likes to employ three- and four-receiver sets. Just who and how much each will be relied upon won't be decided until the ball gets snapped.

Three All-Conference players return up front to ease any growing pains the backfield may experience. Tackle Mike Otto (three-year starter) is the leader, and coaches feel really good about the entire first five on the depth chart. If it all starts up front, this offense is situated to surprise some people.

Both DEs were taken in the NFL Draft, and although coaches still claim the front line won't miss a beat, that would be a nice surprise, if true. The reasons they say this may have to do with some young tackles that are going to be good (somewhere) down the road. The lone returning starter on the DL is Anthony Spencer, who seems to be playing the best football of his career.

The spring was spent interchanging their LB lineup in an effort to locate the best combination - no spot was/is guaranteed. As an example, moving to the middle was Josh Ferguson, who supplanted returning starter George Hall from the position…a development that may or may not continue into the fall.

Any finger pointing done when locating reasons for the severe defensive disappointment experienced just a year ago starts in the secondary. Injuries wreaked havoc - even many backups were hurt. By being forced into the lineup, though, invaluable experience was gained with the then-newbies that can now pay dividends. A starter seems to have been found in CB Brandon King. Outside of him, every position seems wide-open, much like we see with every other unit on this side of the ball. With only four returning starters and positions still unsettled, one can easily see why Purdue is not earning much respect at this juncture of the early season.