Ohio State Football Schedule Prep: Purdue Boilermakers

The Ohio State football team travels to Purdue for its sixth game of the season on October 14th. Here is what you need to know about the Boilermakers.

The Ohio State football team makes its way into the state of Indiana for the third time in six games as it takes on Purdue on October 14th. Continuing our schedule prep series, Purdue will be the third conference opponent for the Buckeyes in the young season following Indiana and Maryland.

Purdue will be led by a new head coach this season as Jeff Brohm left to take over at Louisville. Ryan Walters takes over the program after having led the Illinois defense the previous three seasons. The 37-year-old first-time head coach will bring a ton of energy and a new defensive mindset to the Boilermaker program.

Purdue also brought in a new starting quarterback via the transfer portal in Hudson Card. Card, who played at Texas the previous three seasons, started three games for the Longhorns in 2022 having thrown for 928 yards and six touchdowns. Card was a big-time recruit coming out of Lake Travis High School in Texas back in 2020, so it will be interesting to see how he plays now that he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder.

The Boilermakers also bring back redshirt freshman Devin Mockobee, who nearly rushed for 1,00 yards last season while also registering nine touchdowns on the ground as well. Mockobee is probably Purdue’s best offensive weapon.

The Boilermakers have to replace receiver Charlie Jones who led the nation last season in receptions and had over 1,300 yards through the air. Jones is now in the NFL with the Bengals so the Boilermakers are hoping that T.J. Sheffield can step in and take a jump in 2023. The junior receiver from Thompsons Station, Tennessee had 46 catches for 480 yards in 2022.

Defensively, the Boilermakers look to be improved just by having a defensive-minded head coach. They bring back defensive end Jack Sullivan who led the team with five sacks last season. He will be a player to watch coming off the edge for Purdue and has game-changing big play ability.

They also have Cam Allen at safety who is a very solid player. He registered 40 tackles and had three interceptions in 2022. The fifth-year senior is definitely the leader and best playmaker they have in the secondary.

Overall, Purdue should have another solid season as long as Hudson Card performs the way they believe he will. This is a team that had eight wins last season, so the Ohio State football team better show up and be ready to play. They know from 2018 what can happen if they don’t.