Blough happy to return to field for Purdue, ahead of schedule
More: Video: Brohm's Day 1 thoughts
Analysis ($): What stood out
David Blough knew he was a quick healer and a hard worker.
So when he said a month ago he expected to be back on the field for Purdue by spring ball, he knew he had a legitimate chance.
Maybe few others did — including his coaches — but on Monday, when the Boilermakers opened with Practice No. 1, Blough was the first QB to take the field. He didn’t participate in any team work, but he threw in 7-on-7 and individual drills.
Less than four months months removed from surgery to repair a dislocated ankle.
“It’s fun to be able to get back out here,” Blough said. “It meant a lot to be able to come out here. It was kind of emotional for me, tastes a little bit better.”
Blough realizes he didn’t have to return for the spring — he’s the team’s most experienced quarterback, so he didn’t necessarily need the reps — but skipping out just because he could never entered his mind.
“It’s just how I am. It was a hurdle I wanted to get over, to be able to be cleared, to be able to participate in this. It’s my last (spring),” Blough said. “The guys are going to be out here. I want to be able to be out here, if I’m able. You want to be out here and get those reps so you can keep improving because my game still has a long way to go. I need to work on a lot of things. I think this spring is a good opportunity for me to kind of get back up on the saddle, get my feet under me, literally, and keep working on my game so I can improve and help Purdue.”
Blough had a black brace on the right ankle Monday — he’ll probably keep it for at least a couple weeks, maybe the entire spring — but he moved around well, sliding in the pocket, and he seemed to have good velocity on his throws.
He’s not quite sure how much he’ll be allowed to do as the spring progresses, but that’ll be a constant dialogue with him and Coach Jeff Brohm, who admitted to being surprised Blough was ready to return this spring.
Blough said he’d love to compete in the spring game April 7, which would be nearly exactly five months from his surgery. The recovery time initially was thought to be six months, but Blough said he was cleared to practice last week. So, naturally, he was out there, doing what he was allowed.
“We’re going to ease back into it, take it slow, be smart about it but really get to compete out here still, too, my fifth spring ball,” Blough said. “Obviously, I’d love to participate in some team stuff, but we’ve still got a ways to go to be fully full-go, completely unrestricted. We’re not to risk a chance of (getting) rolled up here when the ultimate goal is being ready to play Aug. 30 vs. Northwestern. We’re still going to give it a little bit more time.”
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