Purdue’s first official injury report of the season arrived with Big Ten play, and the Boilermakers are carrying a few notable names into Saturday’s game against UCLA.
The most significant absences are on the defensive side and at tight end. DB/NB Mister Clark is out again, along with TE Kylan Fox and DB Raderrion Daniels, both of whom are listed with season-ending injuries.
There is one fresh concern from last week’s group: DE/Edge Elo Modozie is questionable. He didn’t see much action against Wake, and that now appears tied to his status.
In theory, Modozie is one of Purdue’s better edge rushers, but the Boilermakers have enough depth there - especially after Jeremy Lewis emerged last week - that the staff can be selective with him. It would not be a surprise if Purdue holds him out here and looks to get him healthier for Notre Dame, or even waits until the Illinois game after the off week.
LT Joey Tanona is doubtful, and the expectation is similar: Purdue may be aiming to have him back later rather than forcing him onto the field in Los Angeles. Backup left tackle Nuku Mafi has played well enough that there’s little reason to rush Tanona unless he is close to fully recovered. A debut on Saturday would be a surprise.
Clark’s absence matters too. He had played well in the opener, and the hope was that he’d be available this week. Instead, he remains out, which trims Purdue’s secondary from six deep to five and makes it harder to keep a six defensive back package on the field.
There are also a couple of names not listed who are worth watching. Offensive lineman Brock Brownfield appears likely to play after it looked like he was bothered in the third quarter of the Indiana State game and then couldn’t quite go last week, with Marques Easley taking over at right guard during the second offensive drive. The true freshman is expected to be available Saturday, though how much he plays remains to be seen.
The same question hangs over George Burhenn. He was reportedly on a pitch count against Wake, but that workload barely amounted to anything.
Purdue’s red zone offense has been rough when it comes to finishing drives with touchdowns, and Burhenn’s presence could help there if he’s healthy enough to contribute. He’s Purdue’s best downfield receiver when available, but that qualifier has been doing a lot of work.
Overall, the Boilermakers head to the West Coast in decent shape. Tanona and Clark would both help, but Purdue has workable options behind them. For the third game of the season, this is about as close to full strength as a team can reasonably expect.
In Other News...
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Purdue heads into a Week 3 trip to the Rose Bowl with a UCLA team that already looks different under new coach Bob Chesney. Chesney brought several players with him from James Madison, and the Bruins have had to navigate injuries to key contributors while trying to settle into a new identity. Even with the transition, UCLAs offense has shown enough burst on the ground to make this a tricky early-season road test.
The concern for Purdue is pretty clear: UCLA has leaned on its running backs, with Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods driving the attack, while quarterback Nico Iamaleava has not found the same rhythm as a passer yet. That mix can still create problems, especially if the Bruins keep forcing defenses to play downhill and react to the run first. For Purdue, the challenge is going to be handling that pressure without letting UCLA turn the game into a tempo and field-position battle. [Read more 🡒]
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Purdue Is Rolling And One Boilermaker Trend Could Matter Most
Purdue kept its momentum rolling with another clean sweep, handling Albany 3-0 as senior setter Taylor Anderson piled up 31 assists and climbed to seventh on the programs all-time assist list. The Boilermakers have now won four straight matches in straight sets, a stretch that has given them some early-season rhythm while putting Andersons steady hand at the center of it.
Heaney Grace Heaney paced Purdue with 11 kills, added three service aces and four blocks, and the Boilermakers improved to 6-2 with another all-around efficient outing. Next comes UCF in the Stacey Clark Classic, and for Purdue the bigger question is whether this run of dominant, quick finishes can keep carrying over as the competition gets a step up. [Read more 🡒]