Top 10 players Purdue will face in 2023
After facing six of the 2023 NFL Draft’s first-round picks during the 2022 season, there’s little doubt that Purdue again will face a number of elite-level football players this fall. Today, GoldandBlack.com ranks the top 10 players that will line up across from the Boilermakers during the 2023 season.
No. 10: Keith Randolph Jr., DT, Illinois
Part of a stellar Illinois defense in 2022, Randolph saw great success in his fourth year in the program. Standing 6-5 and weighing 305 pounds, the giant defensive tackle racked up 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2022. With a star beside him in Jer’Zhan Newton, Randolph makes for a difficult matchup for opposing offensive lines.
A two-time All-Big Ten selection, it’s difficult to envision Randolph not making that three in 2023. He opted to return for his fifth season in Champaign, and he’ll look to help lead a defense with high standards to meet.
No. 9: Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
The former top-50 recruit was thrust into action on the biggest stage last season, starting at running back for the first time in his career against arch-rival Ohio State in a battle of 11-0 teams. He responded by running for 220 yards to lead the maize and blue to a dominant victory in Columbus, then guided the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship. While he’ll share carries with Blake Corum again, there’s no denying Edwards’ game-changing ability.
Even with Corum healthy, Edwards still eclipsed 100 yards in two games. With question marks at receiver, Edwards may see more passes thrown his way, as well. He’d be the top running back on the vast majority of teams in America, and it’s very likely that he puts up big stats on limited carries this season.
No. 8: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
Two-consecutive seasons with more than 1,200 rushing yards make Allen one of the most established tailbacks in the nation entering this fall. In typical Wisconsin fashion, Allen isn’t the flashiest back, but his 238-pound frame makes him tough to tackle and helps make him as consistent as they come. He’s eclipsed the 100-yard mark in 15 of his 24 career games, including both of his outings against Purdue.
Many questions remain unanswered about what the Badgers’ offense will look like under Air Raid disciple Phil Longo, but they won’t be abandoning the run game. After all, it is Wisconsin, and with Allen, he’ll get the job done nearly every time.
No. 7: Zak Zinter, G, Michigan
The big fellas up front may not post gaudy statistics, but Zinter returns as a two-year starter from the back-to-back Joe Moore Award-winning Michigan offensive lines. Slotted at right guard, Zinter helps pave the way for the Michigan ground game that averaged 238 yards per game last season. While Michigan does need to replace a few pieces from last year’s group, Zinter’s decision to delay his NFL career provides a strong base for what projects to be another strong offensive line.
No. 6: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Next up in the run of star corners at Iowa, DeJean earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media in 2022. With a known commodity in Riley Moss lined up on the other side of the field, teams tried to pick on DeJean early on to no avail. DeJean picked off five passes and broke up eight more, and he led the team with three “pick-sixes.” Additionally, he fielded punts, averaging 16.5 yards per return, and finished third on the team in tackles.
All eyes will be on DeJean now that Moss has departed, but he’s ready to lead what figures to be another rock-solid Iowa defense. Matching his stats may prove difficult, however, if teams approach him with much more caution than they did in 2022.
No. 5: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
The Buckeye defense received much criticism after what was a disappointing season for Ohio State’s standards, but Tuimoloau broke out and became a star for coordinator Jim Knowles‘ defense. A ridiculous performance in a highly-anticipated matchup with Penn State put him on the map, and he’ll look to build on that in 2023.
Tuimoloau recorded 10.5 tackles for loss last season, including 3.5 sacks. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if he nearly doubles those totals this season, though opposing offensive lines will surely key on him all game long. Early mock drafts peg him as a first-round pick, and his sheer athleticism makes it easy to see why.
No. 4: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Illinois’ defensive prowess sparked a surprise eight-win season in 2022, and landed defensive coordinator Ryan Walters the Purdue head coaching gig. Without Jer’Zhan Newton, who knows how things would have played out. He tallied 14.5 tackles for loss to lead a disruptive run defense and tacked on 5.5 sacks. The second-team All-American honors accurately reflected his dominance, and now he returns to Champaign for a fourth season with hopes to become a first-round pick.
Despite Walters’ departure, Illinois promoted Aaron Henry to defensive coordinator with hopes of maintaining continuity from one of the nation’s top defenses in 2022. Named by Athlon as a preseason first-team All-American, the foundation of the Illini defense will remain strong with Newton.
No. 3: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
No, Egbuka may not enter the season as the top wide receiver on his team, but the former five-star would be the shining star on nearly every other team in America. After a limited role in his true freshman season, Egbuka lived up to the five-star billing as a sophomore, snagging 74 passes for more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Though the Buckeyes dropped their final two contests to Michigan and Georgia, Egbuka combined for 237 yards in that pair of games. In Ohio State’s pass-happy offense, there are plenty of targets to go around, and he should put up another monster season on his way to becoming a first-round pick in April.
No. 2: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Corum took over as the lead tailback for Michigan in 2022 and guided the Wolverines to an undefeated regular season for the first time since 1997. Unfortunately, Corum’s season came to an early end when he tore his ACL in a late-November win over Illinois. He surprised many with his decision to return to Ann Arbor for his senior season, giving the Wolverines one of the nation’s top running games on paper entering the season as he’s paired with Edwards.
Well on his way to a Heisman ceremony invitation pre-injury, Corum racked up 1,463 yards on the season and found the end zone 18 times. Barring anything unforeseen, he’ll eclipse the 3,000 career-yard mark this season, and he’ll be a leader on a Michigan team looking for its third-consecutive Big Ten championship.
No. 1: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
While the name alone puts lofty expectations on Marvin Harrison, Jr. entering the 2023 season, his 2022 performance put him on the map as the nation’s top wide receiver. Harrison Jr.’s route-running acumen comes from his father, but he stands three inches taller than the Indianapolis Colts legend. In a loaded wide receiver room stocked with elite talent, Harrison Jr. emerged head and shoulders above the rest in 2022, hauling in 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.
How he follows that up remains to be seen, but there’s little doubt that his 2023 numbers will pop off the charts even though he’ll be working with a new quarterback this fall. Ohio State’s talent makes it impossible for defenses to focus their attention solely on Harrison Jr., and his versatility as a route-runner makes him the toughest cover in the nation. It’s rare for a non-quarterback to compete for the Heisman, but if there’s a wide receiver who can do it, it’s the soon-to-be top five draft pick in scarlet and grey.
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