MORE: Spring Football Central
With Purdue pausing for spring break, let’s review each position. First up: Quarterbacks.
• For the first time since Elijah Sindelar ruled the roost in 2019, Purdue has a clear No. 1 quarterback: Aidan O’Connell. He opted to come back for a sixth season, looking to build off a breakout 2021 campaign. O’Connell has looked good. What’s he working on? The staff would like for he super senior to become more athletic, but O’Connell is what he is at this point. Still, Jeff Brohm would like him to tuck-and-run on occasion.
“Well, Aidan performed at a high level many games,” said Brohm. “I just think getting time with any quarterback, just consistency, the ability to eliminate turnovers, the ability to take care of the ball as well as you can, to find check-downs, to find an area to run occasionally if it's not there and pull it down and know that's going to happen a few times."
• It’s not known who will be O’Connell’s caddy in a competition between Austin Burton and Michael Alaimo. Each has a similar skill set, boasting nice athletic ability while needing to refine passing mechanics, pocket poise and decision-making under duress. Neither has played a significant amount at Purdue. In fact, Alaimo has yet to throw a pass in two seasons on campus.
“We do want to get the guys behind (O'Connell) ready,” said Brohm. “And that will give them ample opportunity to do that this spring.”
• Brady Allen is an imposing figure. The early enrollee freshman stands 6-6, sporting an elongated torso. Combine that with the No. 18 jersey he wears, and Allen strikes a physical resemblance to … Peyton Manning. Not saying Allen will be Manning, but he looks like the Hall of Famer. Allen has a strong arm he must harness. That—and other nuances—will come as the game slows down for the true freshman.
“There's times where you see a kid that's in high school, and then see all the potential and all of the possibilities that he has ...,” said co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm. “I think he's doing really good for someone that's coming in as an early enrollee trying to pick up our offense, which is a lot of volume.”
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