Purdue quarterback decision coming

At some point next week we’ll learn Purdue’s starting quarterback for the season opener at Marshall.

Austin Appleby expects to take those first-team snaps Tuesday when the Boilermakers begin preparations for the Sept. 6 matchup against the Thundering Herd.

“Yes, I expect to be the No. 1 quarterback,” Appleby said following Saturday’s jersey scrimmage. “I would be shocked if I wasn’t, but it’s not my decision to make.”

That belongs to coach Darrell Hazell, who is deciding between Appleby and redshirt freshman David Blough. Appleby is the only quarterback with game experience – the junior started the final seven games last season after replacing Danny Etling, who has transferred to Louisiana State.

Although training camp officially ended Saturday, the work continues. Appleby said there’s more to accomplish.

“I don’t think the process ever stops,” said Appleby, who has performed well the last part of training camp. “I definitely grew, I’m definitely getting closer to the quarterback that I’m capable of being. I think I threw the ball very efficiently. I took care of the ball and got better at making those makeable plays, doing all the things that coach Hazell and coach (John) Shoop are counting on me to and trusting me to do. It doesn’t stop because camp stops.”

Unofficially, Appleby completed 13 of 23 for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Blough threw for 215 yards on 15 of 22 passes and one touchdown but was intercepted twice. Hazell has emphasized the lack of turnovers in making the final decision.

“I feel like I gave everything I had this camp,” Blough said. “There’s a lot of plays I wish I had back. It wasn’t my best at times, but sometimes it was good. That’s why it’s the coaches’ decision and above my pay grade. We love competing but we’ll be behind whoever it is. They’ll be behind me; I’ll be behind them and we’ll all be ready.”

Next up

The Boilermakers survived camp without any major injuries. That may have changed Saturday.

Although the severity of linebacker Danny Ezechukwu’s knee injury isn’t known, junior Andy James Garcia is the backup at the position. Garcia has dealt with his own health issues, battling through a hamstring injury suffered on the third day of camp.

Garcia sustained a shoulder stinger in Saturday’s scrimmage, but missed just a couple of plays.

The Miami native will lean on his experience of being in the system if Ezechukwu is out for an extended period.

“This is the year I feel like stuff is being put together and finally we start seeing results,” Garcia said. “Now you see the process and you’re encouraged because you see what the outcome is and all the madness of coach (Greg) Hudson, coach (Marcus) Freeman and coach (Taver) Johnson. You start seeing why they do what they do.”

Linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jimmy Herman (hamstring) were held out of the scrimmage, but both are expected to be ready for the opener. Bentley has been bothered by sore muscles on his side, Hazell said, and Bentley said Friday he visited a chiropractor. Garrett Hudson played middle linebacker in Bentley’s absence.

Other notable players who didn’t participate: Receivers Danny Anthrop (knee) and Bilal Marshall (ankle); cornerback D’Wan Hunte (shoulder) and offensive lineman Jason King (back spasms) departed after one series.

Making strides

One area running back D.J. Knox has focused on improving is pass protection.

The sophomore has held the No. 1 spot on the depth chart since the end of spring practice, but knows this part of his game has to take another step.

“I felt I was pretty good with my vision, my reads and things like that but pass protection was a thing for me because I didn’t have to do it that much in high school,” Knox said. “When I got here, I worked on getting stronger and things like that. I wanted to get stronger.”

Knox isn’t the only running back who has struggled in pass protection. In nearly all of the running back and linebacker drills in camp, Freeman’s group came out ahead. Knox, though, said those individual drills and battling the linebackers in 11-on-11 has helped the running backs take a step forward.

“All of us are getting together and trying to figure this out,” Knox said. “The linebackers have done a great job of getting us ready. They’re sending all types of looks at us. We’re taking reps with Ja’Whaun Bentley and Danny E trying to run through us. It doesn’t get better than that.”