Dellinger looks to turn page after difficult game
Spencer Evans feels J.D. Dellinger's pain.
Back in 2018 when Evans was the Purdue kicker, he lined up for a 38-yard field goal vs. Eastern Michigan that would have extended the Boilermakers' lead to 22-17 with 4:51 to play.
Evans missed.
EMU promptly drove down and kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to stun Purdue, 20-19.
“I had a **** show in that Eastern Michigan game a few years back,” said Evans, who also missed a PAT vs. EMU. “But it’s all about how you move forward. Short memory is key. Never get too high, and never too low."
Dellinger is coming off a rough outing at Minnesota in which he had a field goal blocked and missed another in a 34-31 loss.
"J.D. is a humble guy with a hell of a lot of talent," said Evans.
Evans spent two seasons--2017 and 2018--at Purdue playing with Dellinger after transferring from Baylor. In fact, Dellinger took a redshirt season in 2018 when Evans handled kicking duties--and endured his tough afternoon vs. Eastern Michigan. Evans knows all about the trials and tribulations of being a kicker. And he knows Dellinger, too.
"I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him that he’ll bounce back," said Evans.
Dellinger was on a roll when he arrived in Minnesota last week. The fifth-year senior hit a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter last Friday to cut Minnesota’s lead to 14-10 in the second quarter. It was Dellinger's fifth make in a row to start 2020.
This is where the narrative changes.
With the Boilermakers trailing, 21-10, Dellinger lined up for a 27-yard field-goal attempt with one second left in the first half.
It was blocked.
Then, with 4:08 left in the game and Purdue trailing, 34-31, Dellinger set up for a 33-yard field goal that would have tied the game.
He missed just wide right.
After the 34-31 defeat at Minnesota, Dellinger sent out a tweet of apology. It was a heartfelt communication in which you could feel Dellinger’s angst. It also was unnecesary from a player who has been a class act--and a very good kicker--his entire Purdue career.
“Well, all of our players, I want them to express whatever they feel and the fact that he was man enough to put that out on Twitter tells me, it's a sign that he cares and I have no fault with it one bit,” said Jeff Brohm. “I think he felt bad that we weren't able to get these two field goals and get us scores and to me I love it about him. He's a guy that does care, and when something doesn't go the way he wants, the fact that it bothers him, that actually, you know, makes me proud of him even more.
“Because I want all of our coaches and players when things don't go well to want to do our part instead of saying this could have happened and Joe could have done this and Bill could have done that.”
The 6-2, 200-pound Dellinger has been a steady force for the program since the start of last season. Dellinger finished 2019 having earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media after hitting 13-of-16 field-goal attempts and all 35 of his PATs. Dellinger hit a career-long 53-yarder vs. TCU last season.
The Charlotte native showed he was clutch, too, drilling a 39-yard field goal with three seconds left to deliver a 24-22 victory at Northwestern. It was the second game-winning field goal that Dellinger has hit. Back in 2016 as a true freshman, he booted a 28-yard field goal in overtime to beat Illinois, 34-31, in Champaign.
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Now, Dellinger—who is fourth all-time at Purdue in field goals made with 37—has to deal with some adversity.
“The blocked field goal, we had a little seepage on the left between the left tight end and the left wing,” said Brohm. “They had three guys coming in that area. We've got to block the two most dangerous and let the outside guy go.”
And Dellinger’s kick was too low, amplifying the situation.
“We kind of let the middle of those three sneak in there, could have got a little more help from the tight ends, a little more help from the wing, so there's a combination of things,” said Brohm. “We need to shore that up and get it exactly right, and that's been the focus up to this point. And the second one, you know, I just think he pushed.”
Dellinger will have an opportunity to start another streak on Saturday when Rutgers (1-4) visits Purdue (2-2) for a 4 p.m. ET game. If the Boilermakers want to enjoy a winning season, they no doubt likely will need Dellinger to hit a big kick or two down the stretch.
Maybe this Saturday.
"He’ll bounce back, he’s a tough kid," said Evans.
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