MORE: GoldandBlack.com post-spring projected depth chart: Defense/Special teams

This is GoldandBlack.com's best guess at the Boilermakers' two-deep depth chart coming out of an abbreviated spring that saw Purdue practice just eight times before the pandemic shut things down.

NOTES:

• LINE No unit is under more scrutiny than the front. The line has been a work-in-progress since Jeff Brohm arrived in 2017. His first line may have been his best. Since then, a lack of depth and experience has been a problem. Mammoth fifth-year senior left tackle Grant Hermanns must be a leader and anchor. Things get a bit murky after that. Brohm wants to add a grad transfer--maybe two--but so far has come up empty. Purdue had Colorado State tackle TJ Storment for a nanosecond before he flipped to TCU in a stunning development. Brohm is still shopping. A big issue revolves around who will snap the ball. The status of junior Viktor Beach is cloudy as he continues to deal with back issues. He started the first five games of 2019. Sam Garvin, a junior walk-on who is poised to go on scholarship, was the No. 1 center in spring ball after starting the final seven games last season after Beach went out. Redshirt freshman Spencer Holstege has potential at the pivot. Touted true freshman Gus Hartwig enrolled early and looked good. Could he forge a role on the interior? Keep an eye on redshirt freshman Cam Craig, one of the most promising young linemen on the roster. He could be the left guard. Sophomore Will Bramel received a baptism by fire in 2019. He looks to be a lock at right tackle where he started nine times in 2019. Junior Mark Stickford is one of the most improved linemen. Look for him at right guard. Sophomore Eric Miller is an emerging talent at right tackle. Junior DJ Washington is coming off a broken leg and could be a factor at guard.

• RECEIVER It all begins and ends with sensational sophomores Rondale Moore and David Bell. Will there be a better tandem in the Big Ten? Moore was looking good in the spring coming off a hamstring injury that limited him to just four games in 2019. Bell was being held out as he recovered from shoulder surgery. Like Bell, sophomore Milton Wright is a big target. He just needs better consistency. And don't forget about feisty sophomore Amad Anderson, Jr., who catches just about everything. Fifth-year senior Jackson Antrhop was out this spring getting healthy after surgery. Then, there is a raft of interesting youngsters: redshirt freshmen TJ Sheffield and Mershawn Rice, along with early enrollee freshmen Maliq Carr and Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen--who both looked good in the spring. It's safe to say Purdue never has had this much talent at receiver in the history of the program.

• RUNNING BACK This position continues to get better. The clear No. 1 man is sophomore King Doerue, who led the team in rushing in 2019. Junior Zander Horvath gets better with age and was pounding defenders in the spring. Redshirt freshman Da'Joun Hewitt looked good in March. This is a big season for him. The staff waits with bated breath for the arrival of true freshman Tirek Murphy, Purdue's most touted running back recruit in a generation.

• TIGHT END No way Purdue is able to replace Brycen Hopkins, the 2019 Big Ten Tight End of the Year. But potential bubbles. And it begins with offensive-tackle-sized sophomore Payne Durham. Four of his nine 2019 catches went for touchdowns. Redshirt freshmen Kyle Bilodeau and Garrett Miller have coaches excited.

• QUARTERBACK Who will it be? Sophomore Jack Plummer or junior Aidan O'Connell, who has been given a scholarship after walking on in 2017? Plummer is coming off an ankle injury suffered in the ninth game of 2019 that ended his season. He was limited in the spring but looked good when in action. O'Connell impressed when he took over for Plummer. O'Connell is cool and can sling it. Don't be shocked if Brohm plays both early in the season. Redshirt freshman Paul Piferi needs more work. True freshman Mike Alaimo arrives this summer. Could he pass Piferi for the No. 3 job? Know this: Purdue would like to add a grad transfer.

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