Previewing the 2015 season for the Purdue Boilermakers
2014 record: 3-9 (1-7 Big Ten)
Key losses: LB Landon Feichter, RB Akeem Hunt, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Justin Sinz, DE Ryan Russell
Key returners: QB Austin Appleby, CB Frankie Williams, C Robert Kugler, WR Danny Anthrop, DT Jake Replogle
Instant impact freshman: You can go with quarterback Elijah Sindelar here, but let's throw out running back Markell Jones as a name to watch. Jones is coming into a team that ranked 71st in the country in rushing offense last season, averaging only 157.2 yards per game. Leading rushers Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert are gone, so there is opportunity for Jones and any of the other running back commits in the class. -- Tom VanHaaren
Class of '16 update: Coach Darrell Hazell emphasizes the evaluations his staff does, so he doesn't pay much attention to rankings or ratings. That might be the case, but Purdue has the second-fewest total commitments in the conference with 11, in front of only Indiana with 10. The Boilermakers are in an interesting situation on the recruiting trail; prospects need to see big improvement on the field to start jumping on board. -- Tom VanHaaren
Biggest question mark: Can any quarterbacks separate from the pack? Purdue has had great success recruiting quarterbacks in the past few years. Junior Austin Appleby finished the 2014 season at the helm, but he's been pushed hard by redshirt freshman David Blough so far in training camp. Establishing some continuity under center -- something Hazell's staff hasn't been able to do in its first two seasons -- can go a long way in helping Purdue's offense find a rhythm. This team might be one good leader away from making a jump out of the conference cellar.
Most important game: The most important one is the next one, right coaches? In Purdue's case, that rings true for its season opener against Marshall. Hazell said his team is going to have to do well in September in order to have a successful season. If the Boilermakers have postseason aspirations, winning nonconference games is crucial, and they didn't do themselves any favors scheduling Virginia Tech and Conference USA powerhouse Marshall. Beating the Thundering Herd on Sept. 5 could give the team a needed confidence boost, and a chance to enter Big Ten play with a winning record.
Upset special: A trip to Iowa in late November could help Purdue end 2015 on a winning streak, something Hazell's teams have yet to experience at any point of the season. For the Hawkeyes, the game is sandwiched in between West powers Minnesota and Nebraska, and Iowa hasn't showed it has the offensive talent to get away with overlooking a team such as Purdue. A Boilermaker victory would turn up the heat on Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.
Key stat: Explosive plays were lacking in West Lafayette last season. Purdue moved the ball at least 10 yards on 128 plays (out of 836 total snaps) in 2014. Only Vanderbilt and Wake Forest had fewer double-digit gains among Power 5 teams. When Purdue found ways to break a couple big plays, its offense thrived. Against Illinois -- the Boilermakers' one league win last year -- they scored 38 points thanks in part to touchdowns that went 44, 54 and 80 yards. Purdue lost two running backs with breakaway speed -- Hunt and Mostert -- and will have to do a better job of ripping off big chunks of yards without them.
Prediction: Five wins. Even with (best-case scenario) three nonconference wins, it will take an impressive turnaround for Purdue to reach a bowl this season. A November schedule that features Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa and Indiana provides some hope for the Boiler faithful; Purdue will need to take three of those four to have a shot.
