Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Purdue Football: Where will Boilermakers land in 2020 NFL Draft?

By Dante Pryor

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 29: Tight end Brycen Hopkins #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs after a catch against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 29: Tight end Brycen Hopkins #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs after a catch against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 20: Markus Bailey #21 of the Purdue Boilermakers returns an interception during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 20: Markus Bailey #21 of the Purdue Boilermakers returns an interception during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

LB. 87. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Purdue. Markus Bailey. 6

Markus Bailey had two productive seasons bookended by two seasons where he was injured. He was a member of Purdue’s walking wounded last season playing in only two games. He was slated to be the anchor of Purdue’s improving defense and one of its senior captains.

As a junior, Bailey led the Big Ten in solo tackles with 82 — he was sixth in the conference in sacks in 2017 as a redshirt sophomore. When he was on the field, Bailey was productive. Without the benefit of a medical evaluation from team doctors, the two knee injuries will affect his draft status.

Put on the 2018 tape of Bailey and several things stand out. First, Bailey has a nose for the football. He diagnoses early and pursues the ball with extreme prejudice. He sheds blockers well to get to ball carriers. He is as good against the run as he is against the pass. which is important since the NFL is a passing league.

His football IQ stands out. He can put himself in the right position to make plays. He drives to the ball and wraps up well. His fundamentals are off the chart. They have to be because Bailey is limited athletically which will show itself at the next level.

Next. Ranking college football's top 50 fanbases. dark

Bailey, a lunch pail guy seems like the type of player Matt Rhule recruited while he was at Baylor. He is a heady guy who just knows where the ball is. The knee injuries and athletic limitations are a concern which is why he will fall to the later rounds. However, he could be one of those diamond in the rough sort of players we talk about five years from now.

Projection: Sixth round, No. 184 overall (Panthers)

Home/Purdue Boilermakers