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Purdue football: 3 way-too-early breakout candidates for 2022

By Christopher Mangum

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 04: Broc Thompson #29 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball during the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 4, 2021 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 04: Broc Thompson #29 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball during the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 4, 2021 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 23: Aidan O’Connell #16 of the Purdue Boilermakers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 23: Aidan O’Connell #16 of the Purdue Boilermakers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

1. Aidan O’Connell

There is one name that all Purdue football fans know to watch in 2022: Aidan O’Connell. In his fifth season at Purdue, the super-senior threw for 3,712 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. On top of these impressive numbers, O’Connell finished the 2021 season with an 85.7 quarterback rating, the fifth-best QBR in the country last season.

O’Connell — who is now entering the fifth season of his collegiate career — will receive the starting nod for the Boilermakers again this coming season. O’Connell may be one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten with the proper scheduling and weapons.

Through the years, O’Connell has steadily improved his passing abilities with little-to-no regression since his sophomore season in 2019. From 2019 to 2021, O’Connell’s passer rating improved an impressive 18.1 points and could improve even more in 2022.

One thing that stands out about O’Connell’s impressive season in 2021 is that when he thrived, his team flourished. No one saw Purdue football going 9-4 last year, yet they managed to pull off a spectacular season that concluded with a bowl win over an SEC opponent. In 2022, Purdue returns much of its talent on both sides of the ball — this means that O’Connell and the Boilermakers have a chance to make waves in the Big Ten West once again.

Purdue’s only losses last season were at No. 8 Notre Dame (11-2), Minnesota (9-4), Wisconsin (9-4), and at No. 4 Ohio State (11-2). Despite the four losses, the Boilermakers did knock off numerous top-five opponents such as Iowa and Michigan State — and defeated both of their rivals (Illinois and Indiana). If Purdue football can keep trending in the right direction, both the program and O’Connell could be on the road to even greater success in the seasons to come.

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