WEST LAFAYETTE − Purdue football players continue to hype the Boilermaker wide receivers.
The numbers certainly lend evidence that Purdue has plenty of people who can make plays in the position group.
Eight different Purdue receivers have at least one reception this season and five have a touchdown catch.
However, there’s another side to that, too.
Michael Jackson III, Purdue’s leading receiver, averages 61 yards per game. No one else averages even 45 yards per game for an offense that’s passing for 284 yards per over five contests.
“The good news is, we have talent. We can all see that,” Purdue offensive coordinator Josh Henson said of Purdue’s receivers. “We’re getting multiple players in a position to make plays and they’re making them. I think the not so good news in that is we need consistency.
“We need the same guys being the same guys every week.”
Does Purdue have a long line of receiving talent or are the Boilermakers missing a marquee playmaking pass catcher who can strike fear in opposing defenses?
It’s a Catch-22.
“I think you’ve got to prove it on game day, but then before that you’ve got to prove it in your habits throughout the week,” Purdue head coach Barry Odom said. “Continue to believe and think we’re always going to be in a position that I really don’t care what the jersey number is, you’re going to get the opportunities that you create for yourself.”
Freshman Jalil Hall was injured after making a catch in Purdue’s season opener Aug. 30 versus Ball State and hasn’t played since. Purdue has been without De’Nylon Morrissette, a perceived starter, all season.
EJ Horton, who started against USC and Notre Dame, was out last weekend against Illinois, a game where Chauncey Magwood returned from injury to play with Purdue for the first time. Meanwhile, the game served as Corey Smith’s breakout, which included a 60-yard TD catch.
“We all have to be ready to step up and make that play when it comes to us,” said Smith, who transferred to Purdue after playing his freshman season at Tulsa last year.
A position group that no doubt has talent also has its deficiencies.
Saturday’s loss to Illinois was marred by four drops, bringing the total for Purdue’s wide outs this season to 12 in five games, an issue that recurred throughout fall camp.
Henson highlighted Jackson (32 catches, 305 yards, 1 TD) and Nitro Tuggle (13 catches, 224 yards, 3 TDs) for “being the same guys they’ve been every week” while others in the position group have been hit and miss depending on the week.
“It’s really not talent battling back and forth,” Henson said. “It’s really just inconsistency. There’s not two or three other guys that are like, every day, I’m the guy you can count on. It’s been an up and down flow with the rest of the spots. They’re all talented enough to do it.”
The four drops against Illinois were a season high.
In between though there’s been a series of highlight plays — Jesse Watson and Nitro Tuggle at Notre Dame, Smith last Saturday and Arhmad Branch for Purdue’s first touchdown of the season.
“I think that there’s guys that continue to make plays, but we’re going to have to make consistent plays … ” Odom said. “That’s going to take a room full of guys. I don’t know that we’re going to have just one guy that you go in each and every week and, you know, this is the guy of the week.”
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football has receivers ‘talented enough to do it’ but needs it consistently
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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