More: Bowl bound, but where?

Analysis ($): Four Downs

Markus Bailey was sitting Purdue’s defensive bench on the sideline Saturday, listening to the Ross-Ade Stadium crowd repeatedly yell out its first-down chant.

And he knew Markell Jones was largely the reason why, as the junior running back was turning over the chains, keeping the defense off the field and delivering Purdue a win. That alone was indication enough for Bailey that Jones, who finished with a career-high 217 yards on 31 carries in a 31-24 win over Indiana, was motivated.

“You could tell by the way he was running,” said Bailey, a sophomore linebacker. “He was running angry, making good cuts and had good vision. I’m happy he chose today to have that game.”

It was an impressive performance by the junior running back. Jones’ 217 yards was the third-best against Indiana in school history and was the program’s first 200-plus-yard output since Ralph Bolden (234) vs. Toledo in 2009.

“It feels amazing,” Jones said.

Probably more so for Jones. The Columbus, Ind., native attended high school in Hoosier country — anything south of Indianapolis is, he said — and has dealt with that in the last couple years, when IU had won the last of its four straight, and had to hear about that when he traveled home.

And Jones had a trying game at the end of a trying season in 2016, when he went for only 35 yards on 22 carries, with a long of eight, in a two-point loss at Indiana.

Jones looked tremendous fresher, quicker and more powerful in this edition of the rivalry. It helps that he’s healthy for the first time in ages. Last season, he suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the year, chipping on a block against Cincinnati, then had an ankle issue that wouldn’t leave him alone. It hampered him all season, culminating in his struggles vs. the Hoosiers.

Then, this year, he sprained an MCL in his knee on a kickoff return against Louisville, causing him to miss the next three games.

“That’s part of the game with injuries that I dealt with over the years,” he said. “This year, we’ve been able to rotate backs a lot more than we have in the past. That’s helped me take less targets. I’m healthy. I’m the healthiest I’ve been at this time of the year since I’ve been college.”

Good thing, because the others at his positions aren’t healthy, the latest being longtime running mate D.J. Knox, who appeared to hurt his left hand against the Hoosiers, leaving for the locker room and returning with it significant wrapped. With Knox sidelined, joining Tario Fuller and Richie Worship, Jones took on all of the carries.

And much like two years ago, when he had 875 yards in his breakout freshman season, he got better as Saturday’s game progressed, starting to drive through IU’s first line of defense and seek out and run over defensive backs.

He had 159 of his 217 yards in the second half, helping Purdue extend its lead then hang on to it.

“Even as a unit, the running backs, we talked about it today, they don’t want to hit us for 60 minutes,” Jones said of IU’s defense. “After that first half, I did all right, and then D.J. went down, and they started calling my name a little more. At the end of the game, (the Hoosiers) were tired, a little worn down, so that’s exactly how we want to do that to them.”

Afterward, Jones was quick to credit his offensive line — he pointed out that IU was slanting its front, and the Boilermaker O-line was opening cut-back lanes — rather than take too much praise himself.

But Jones took advantage of his opportunities, first in getting the ball then in running through holes and punishing defenders. He says he feels fresher than he has in a long time, thanks in large part to sharing the offensive load with other running backs.

It’s paid off.

“I’m very proud of Markell,” Coach Jeff Brohm said. “He’s played a lot of football here and done a good job. Sure, he’s had ups and downs like everybody, but he’s hung in there. When other people may have shut it down, he continued to work hard and bide his time. When he’s gotten in there he’s produced. In this game, when he had to carry the load — we had running backs get injured — he’s a guy who has a good feel of how to run the football and find some open space. It’s a big moment for him.

“Markell stepped up today and was outstanding.”

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