Conference Big Ten Conference 2011 record 7–6 (4–4 Big Ten) Offensive coordinator Gary Nord (3rd year) | Division Leaders Division Head coach Danny Hope (3rd year) Offensive scheme Spread | |
The 2011 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Under third-year head coach Danny Hope, Purdue compiled a record of 7–6 and finished in third place in the newly formed Leaders Division of the Big Ten Conference. They played their home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana and are members of the Big Ten Conference. Highlights of Purdue's 2011 season included a 21–14 victory over #21 Illinois, a 26–23 overtime victory over Ohio State, and the first bowl game since 2007. Purdue's season ended with a 37–32 victory against Western Michigan in the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
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The Special teams unit for the 2011 season was a key factor in many of the Boilermakers games as they averaged a school-record 28.7 yards per kick-off return. The team title was the first since the 1954 Boilermakers led the NCAA in any yardage category for an entire season, and is merely the third team title in school history (also passing defense in 1941). True freshman Raheem Mostert was a key contributor, as he averaged 33.5 yards a return, capped off with a 99-yard touchdown return in the bowl game. He finished the season with seven returns of 39 or more yards, including an 81-yarder at Indiana and a 74-yarder at Wisconsin. Against the Badgers, he racked up 206 yards on five kickoff returns to break 42-year-old school records for total yardage and average yards per return.
Before the season
The Boilermakers are looking to improve on a 4–8 record (2–6 in conference play) in 2010, in which they finished 9th in the Big Ten conference. The offense will be aided by the return of junior running back, Ralph Bolden, who is returning from a torn ACL but led the team in rushing yards back in 2009. Their running back depth will be tested, as the running back with the most amount of yards who was still had eligibility remaining, Al-Terek McBurse transferred out of Purdue. Rob Henry was named the starting quarterback in the preseason, but tore his ACL on August 23, and will miss the entire 2011 season. The quarterback play will be split between Robert Marve and Caleb TerBush. The receiving core returns its 2010 leader in touchdowns, Antavian Edison, as well as O. J. Ross who saw significant playing time during the 2010 season as a true freshman. On the defense the departure of Ryan Kerrigan, who was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, will be a tough hole to fill, but will be aided by the return of Kawann Short, the team's top returning sack man. The linebacking group returns all three starters from a season ago, which includes 2 of the teams top 3 tacklers in 2010, Dwayne Beckford and Joe Holland. The secondary also returns all its starters, led by 2010 leading tackler, Logan Link and Ricardo Allen. The Boilermakers are looking to return to a bowl game for the first time since 2007.
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At the conclusion of the regular season, Purdue had clinched its first bowl appearance since the 2007 season. Their 6–6 record (4–4 in the Big Ten) placed them 7th in the conference and earned a spot in the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Western Michigan.
Awards
2nd Team All-Big Ten (Coaches vote)
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches vote)
2nd Team All-Big Ten (Media vote)
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Media vote)
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree
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