The first depth chart of the season is out and one of the most significant technicalities is that Elijah Sindelar is the starting quarterback int he opener for the third straight season. Of course, that didn’t mean much last year as David Blough took over in game 3 and Sindelar never player again, plus Sindelar and Blough split time in 2017. The first depth chart of the season also has plenty of other interesting spots, so here it is:

Offense

QB

RB

WR

LT

LG

C

RG

RT

TE

WR

WR

Amad Anderson - Fr. (RS) Milton Wright - Fr.

We’re definitely rolling with youth out of necessity. The two deep on offense has 10 freshmen on it, and four of those are true freshmen. Amad Anderson and Will Bramel will make their Purdue debuts out of redshirt as starters. The two freshmen running backs will play along with Milton Wright and David Bell. The interesting part at receiver is that six players are listed, and we easily could play 2-4 more.

Defense

DE

DT

DT

DE

LB

LB

LB

CB

Kenneth Major - So. Cory Trice - Fr. (RS)

FS

SS

CB

The defense is also littered with freshmen. Jalen Graham and George Karlaftis will start as true freshmen. There are “only” 7 freshmen on the two deep, but that is still a lot of youth. On both sides there is reason for excitement. If we start strong it means that 2020 and 2021 could be huge because there is so much youth that will play. The defensive line itself is a complete makeover with two freshmen starters and Barnes moving down from linebacker. Also, as expected, Lorenzo Neal is out this week. Again, if this unit is good from the start it will only get better when Neal returns. Reviere and Higgins were starters much of last season.

Special Teams

K

J.D. Dellinger - Jr. Chris van Eekeren - Fr.

P

LS

Nick Zecchino - Jr. Brooks Royal - So.

Holder

Kickoff Returns

Punt Returns

Rondale Moore - So. Jackson Anthrop - Jr.

A couple of surprises here. Zecchino takes over for Ben Makowski. He was a transfer in before fall practice from UConn, where he started every game in 2016, so he hasn’t played in two years. Walk-on QB Danny Carollo, and one-time HS basketball teammate of Evan Boudreaux is the new holder. Brooks Cormier joins the true freshman parade by starting at punter.

So that’s 18 freshmen on the two deep for game one. By comparison, Purdue has just 11 scholarship seniors and only 7 of them are starting. Three of them (Neal, Tario Fuller, and Richie Worship) are out this week due to injury.