Early Look: Purdue Boilermakers

Here's a Monday look at Illinois's eighth opponent of the 2019 season, the Purdue Boilermakers

Date/time: Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. CST

Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Surface: Grass

Capacity: 57,236

Schedule/records: Illinois 3-4 overall, 1-3 Big Ten, 4-8 in 2018 (2-7 in Big Ten); Purdue 2-5 overall, 1-3 in Big Ten, 6-7 (5-4in Big Ten) in 2018.

Series notes: The all-time series is tied at 44-44-6 but Purdue has taken each of the last three meetings. Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm, who was the quarterbacks' coach at Illinois from 2010-11, is 2-0 against the Illini by a combined 75-10 in those pair of meetings. 

TV: Big Ten Network

Early line: Purdue by 9

Rondale Moore's injury status is "doubtful" vs. Illinois 

Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm said Monday that the injury status of star receiver Rondale Moore is "doubtful" to play against the Illini on Saturday. Moore injured his hamstring in the 38-31 loss to Minnesota. Despite missing three games, Moore is still tied for second in receptions (29) and third in receiving yards (387) and touchdowns (two). Moore was injured on the same play where Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar suffered a broken collarbone. Moore has been involved in a rash of injuries for the Boilermakers that has included Sindelar, wide receiver Jared Sparks, linebacker Markus Bailey, linebacker Cornel Jones and defensive tackle Lorenzo Neal. 

This will be a matchup of the reigning Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week vs. the Big Ten Freshman of the Week

Obviously Illini fans are aware of Jake Hansen's defensive player of the week honors but in a 26-20 loss at Iowa, the emergence of freshman wide receiver David Bell took form. The Indianapolis, Ind., native 13 passes for a freshman school-record 197 yards and a touchdown against Iowa

Bell, who is a 6-foot-2 target and was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana last season, tallied the most receptions by a Boilermaker since Gregory Phillips had 14 against Arizona in 2017. 

“Everything is smooth," Brohm said Monday. "He doesn’t look like he’s going to make the spectacular play, but he always makes the play.”

Bell is proving to be a consistent playmaker at the receiver position that is quickly becoming a signature of a program under head coach Jeff Brohm. Under Brohm, at least one Purdue player has gone over 100 yards receiving in a game In total, the 21 times that a player has hauled in 100 or more yards receiving has been done in 33 games under Brohm’s leadership at Purdue.

Purdue is trying to solve its offensive linemen problems

Shortly after being sacked 10 times in a 35-7 loss at Penn State, Brohm made four major changes up front that included three new starters. Purdue made changes to left guard (Alex Criddle to Mark Stickford), center (Viktor Beach to Sam Garvin), right guard (Will Bramel to Matt McCann) and right tackle (Will Bramel to Eric Miller).  Since the changes, the results have been positive with the Boilermakers only surrendering two total sacks to Maryland and Iowa in the last two weeks. Illinois will bring one of the nation's best pass rushers in the form of Oluwole Betiku Jr. at one of the defensive end spots. Betiku, who is tied for sixth in the nation with eight sacks, was forced to leave the win over Wisconsin with an injury but is expected to play Saturday. 

Tight end Brycen Hopkins, son of former Illini great Brad Hopkins, is a major target

With Rondale Moore going down with a leg injury, tight end Brycen Hopkins has been a weapon for quarterback Jack Plummer as of late. The son of former Illini offensive lineman Brad Hopkins, who was a first-round selection in the NFL Draft, has 15 catches for 191 yards over the last two games against Maryland and Iowa. Last season Hopkins caught 34 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns anveraged a team-high 17.1 yards per reception

Lovie Smith on avoiding the hangover effect of the win vs. Wisconsin and on Purdue: 

"During Homecoming last year, we were embarrassed by Purdue (the 46-7 loss in Champaign). We get a chance to redeem yourself. You want to stack wins, as much as anything. I don't think they get off the bus running the football. They get off passing it. We'll have to stop them whether all of their players are playing or not."