As we countdown to kickoff in September, we’re doing a team-by-team opponent preview. Today, we're previewing Syracuse's matchup with Purdue on Sept. 16 with our friend Dub Jellison over at Boiler Upload.

Quarterback Hudson Card is going to be the key to Purdue’s season, especially on offense, this fall. The coaching staff marveled at his play during spring practice and are expecting big things from the Texas transfer this year.

Many around the Longhorns program believe Card actually beat out Quin Ewers for the starting job last year, but was not given the role due to ulterior motives. He has been effective in limited playing time, throwing for 1,523 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Card will also add a dual threat option for offensive coordinator Graham Harrell during his first year in West Lafayette.

Defensively, the veteran leader and most important member of the group is fifth-year senior safety Sanoussi Kane. Kane led the Boilermakers in tackles last season with 72, and added 4.5 tackles for loss in his first year getting consistent playing time.

Since head coach Ryan Walters arrived in December, Kane has thrived in the new defense and emerge as one of the program’s leaders. Between the lines, he will be in a safety/linebacker hybrid role for defensive coordinator Kevin Kane, similar to All-Big Ten performer and third round NFL Draft selection Sydney Brown was a year ago.

Purdue is tasked with replacing All-American sensation Charlie Jones in 2023, who was a breakout star last fall. There could be another breakout candidate on the roster heading into the season in FAU transfer wide receiver Jahmal Edrine.

Edrine had 39 catches for over 500 yards and six touchdowns for FAU as a redshirt freshman. The Owls’ offense was not particularly known for throwing the ball around the yard, and he will get more opportunities with the Boilermakers.

One of the rising stars for the defensive unit this spring was outside linebacker Nic Scourton (formerly Nic Caraway). Scourton had the biggest role of an true freshman in 2022, finishing the year with 22 total tackles with two tackles for loss and two sacks.

By all indications, Purdue expects Scourton to have a breakout season this fall as an edge rusher. The new defensive system in West Lafayette gives rushers one on one scenarios, which will bode well for the talented defender. By the end of the season, we could be talking about Scourton as a future first round NFL Draft pick, that’s the type of potential he has.

The best-case scenario for Purdue in 2023 is a third straight 8+ win campaign with a winning record during Big Ten play. Ryan Walters’ “Air Strike” defense at Illinois was arguably the best in the country last season and is a unique system with five players on the line of scrimmage at all times. If he has the same impact as he had on the Illini, Purdue could contend for another Big Ten West title.

The worst-case scenario is a let down from last year’s Big Ten Championship season, going 4-8 and struggling mightily in Big Ten play. If this scenario played out, a large part of it could be the difficult schedule Purdue is slated to play. The Boilermakers have the 17th hardest schedule in the country, per ESPN’s FPI. That includes dates against both Ohio State and Michigan, along with non-conference battles with Syracuse, Fresno State and a trip to Virginia Tech.

Purdue is in a peculiar spot at the moment. It’s coming off the Jeff Brohm era, which ended in back-to-back 8+ win seasons and a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. Along with the entire staff departing, a large chunk of the main contributors from last year’s team have also left the program.

New head coach Ryan Walters has been a breath of fresh air for Purdue football. He has brought a different energy than the previous regime that has created a buzz around the program.

This fall could be a underwhelming due to the big changes this off-season from a personnel perspective, but there is optimism for the future of Purdue football with Walters at the helm.

It was a busy off-season for Purdue on the portal market, beginning with securing a commitment from Texas transfer Hudson Card. He was the first target for Ryan Walters when he got hired and the Boilermakers landed him quickly. Purdue also added Jahmal Edrine from FAU, who had over 500 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2022.

The secondary was also overhauled from last year with several transfers entering the fold. Marquis Wilson (Penn State) and Salim Turner-Muhammad (Stanford) are the most likely to start in that group. Former four-star and 2023 recruit Braxton Myers transferred after a semester at Ole Miss too.

Other portal additions that have the potential to start this fall are defensive linemen Jeffrey M’ba (Auburn), Isaiah Nichols (Arkansas) and Malik Langham (Vanderbilt). The offensive line also saw Luke Griffin (Missouri), Jalen Grant (Bowling Green), Austin Johnson (Colorado), and Preston Nichols (UNLV) join the program.

As for the players who departed in the transfer portal, the trenches were affected the most.

Three starting defensive linemen, Jack Sullivan (USC), Branson Deen (Miami) and Lawrence Johnson (Auburn) all took their talents elsewhere. Starting tackle Eric Miller (Louisville) and starting guard Spencer Holstege (UCLA) both left the program as well, which has made Purdue’s offensive line a question mark heading into the season.

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