| Danny Hope's first season as the Purdue | | | | front on the defensive side of the ball, as they |
| Boilermakers head football coach ended in a | | | | return two of the conference's best at their |
| disappointing 5-7 record, as his team lost five | | | | respected positions in senior defensive end Ryan |
| games by seven or less points in 2009. The | | | | Kerrigan and sophomore defensive tackle Kawann |
| Boilermakers however finished the year 4-4 in Big | | | | Short. Kerrigan was a sack machine for the |
| Ten conference play. Purdue has 11 returning | | | | Boilermakers in 2009, taking home a team best |
| starters back for the 2010 season, as they look | | | | 13 sacks. Purdue also brings back junior defensive |
| to surprise a lot of people with a strong finish in | | | | end Gerald Gooden, who finished tied for third on |
| the Big Ten. Check out my 2010 Purdue | | | | the team with 4.5 sacks in 2009, and figures to |
| Boilermakers season preview below. | | | | improve on those numbers this season. |
| Offense: | | | | All three starters are back at linebacker for the |
| The Boilermakers lose starting quarterback Joey | | | | Boilermakers this season, and you have to think |
| Elliot, but bring in Miami transfer Robert Marve, | | | | this unit will be even better in 2010 with improved |
| who figures to win the starting job over | | | | play up front. Junior weak-side backer Joe Holland |
| sophomore Caleb Terbush and red-shirt freshman | | | | is the leading tackler back from the 2009 season, |
| Rob Henry. Marve brings some experience to the | | | | while senior strong-side linebacker Jason Werner |
| table, as he started 11 games for the Hurricanes | | | | and junior middle linebacker Chris Carlino were also |
| in 2008. | | | | at the top of the tackle board in 2009. |
| Sophomore running back Al-Terek McBurse has | | | | The Boilermakers will have four new starters in |
| likely found himself as the feature back of the | | | | the secondary this season, and that figures to be |
| Boilermaker's offense in 2010, as he replaces | | | | a big concern for this defense heading into 2010. |
| 2009 top rusher Ralph Bolden, who will likely miss | | | | Juniors Mike Eargle and Charlton Williams are the |
| the season after tearing his ACL in the spring. | | | | front runners for the two starting corner spots, |
| The Boilermakers will feature one of the top | | | | while junior Albert Evans and sophomore Gavin |
| receivers in all of the Big Ten this season in senior | | | | Roberts appear to be headed into the starting |
| Keith Smith, who led the way with 91 catches for | | | | lineup at the two safety positions. This unit could |
| 1,100 yards and six touchdowns in 2009. Also | | | | perform better than people think if the |
| back in the mix is senior wide out Cortez Smith | | | | Boilermakers continue to put a lot of pressure on |
| and senior tight end Kyle Adams. Red-shirt | | | | opposing quarterbacks. |
| freshman Gary Bush figures to get in on the | | | | PREDICTION: 8th in the Big Ten: I had a hard |
| action this season as the team's No.3 receiver, | | | | time picking the Boilermakers this low in my Big |
| and the hope is he will be a threat for many | | | | 10 conference standings, but outside of home |
| years to come for the Boilermakers. | | | | games against Minnesota and Indiana there aren't |
| Purdue has a lot of work to do to sure up an | | | | any other conference games where I can see |
| offensive line that returns just two starters from | | | | the Boilermakers being favored. I think another |
| the 2009 season. The two starters back are | | | | 5-7 finish is in store for Purdue this season. |
| junior left tackle Dennis Kelly and junior right guard | | | | For a complete look at the Big Ten Conference, |
| Kyle Plue, and both figure to be two of the best | | | | check out Jimmy Boyd's 2010 Big Ten predictions. |
| offensive linemen in the Big Ten this season. | | | | If you plan on making money betting on college |
| Defense: | | | | football this season, be sure to check out our live |
| The Boilermakers figure to be the strongest up | | | | college football odds feed each week. |
