Purdue Boilermakers Offensive Players to Watch vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Purdue Boilermakers' offense in 2022 was largely based around the arm of quarterback Aidan O'Connell and the hands of wide receiver Charlie Jones.
Now that O'Connell and Jones have moved on to the NFL, the Boilermakers will need new players to step up and carry the load.
Here are some of the impact players that new head coach Ryan Walters will look to this Saturday when the Boilermakers host the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes:
Hudson Card, QB
Card has been a reliable captain for the Purdue offense this season, amassing almost 1,500 passing yards over six games. Better still, the Austin, Texas native has compiled a completion percentage of just under 64 percent.
Where Card needs improvement is his touchdown-to-interception ratio. Currently, Card has thrown for six scores and five picks, which is well under Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord's 8-to-1 comparison.
The Buckeyes are going to undoubtedly be the toughest defense that Card and the Boilermakers have faced so far this season. How the junior signal caller performs against the daunting Ohio State defenders lined up across from him will be something to which fans of both teams pay close attention.
Deion Burks, WR
Burks is one of two Boilermakers receivers to enter the weekend with over 300 receiving yards, meaning opponents cannot afford to pay exclusive attention to the sophomore pass-catcher. Improvement has been the theme of the season for Burks, who followed up 15 catches for 149 yards last year with more than double that in just nine more receptions.
The numbers show Burks is even better when playing at Purdue's Ross-Ade Stadium. A vast majority of the receiving yards for the man from Belleville, Michigan (359 of his total 396) have come in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Coming off only 18 yards last weekend against the Iowa Hawkeyes, Burks is no doubt hungry to return to his usual numbers on Saturday.
Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, WR
As Purdue's other receiver over 300 yards, Yaseen plays a crucial role in the Boilermakers' passing game.
Yaseen, a native Michigander like Burks, enters Saturday's game against Ohio State averaging almost 16 yards per reception against Big Ten Conference opponents. Another thing Burks and Yaseen have in common is their less-than-20-yard performances against the Hawkeyes last weekend.
Yaseen (and Burks) is capable of causing problems for opposing defenses when he is at his usual level but will need to shake off a slow game last Saturday in order to do it this weekend.
Only time will tell what the offensive law firm of Burks, Card & Yaseen will be able to do against the Ohio State Buckeyes defense.
