Freshman Etling has career day in finale
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Purdue quarterback Danny Etling’s whirlwind first season may have begun as a backup behind senior Rob Henry, but it ended on Saturday here in Bloomington with 485 yards and four touchdowns.
The 19-year-old freshman has bounced back and forth between success and frustration this season, starting eight games while struggling with accuracy and taking too many sacks.
In Saturday’s 56-36 loss against archrival Indiana, Etling became the first Purdue player to pass for 400 yards since Curtis Painter on Nov. 22, 2008. Even with a struggling run game, Etling helped compile what was easily Purdue’s best point total of a 1-11 season.
“It just started clicking,” Etling said. “We’re all starting to really trust the coaches. We have the right coaches here. I think everyone knows that. Now it’s us growing up and learning together.”
Etling threw the first of his season-high four touchdowns early in the second quarter, executing a play fake that helped tight end Justin Sinz get wide open in the left side of the end zone. Although Indiana blocked the point after, the score drew Purdue to 14-6.
After the Hoosiers made it a 49-9 game in the third quarter, Etling kept at it, taking a five-step drop behind a six-man line and adeptly leading fellow freshman DeAngelo Yancey past safety Greg Heban on a 10-yard touchdown pass.
“He did a great job keeping us honest on defense,” Heban said. “He kind of got out of the pocket a little bit, scrambled a little bit. We weren’t expecting that as much as we saw on film. He did a good job pulling up when he needed to and getting outside of the pocket.”
Early in the fourth on the first snap following an Indiana turnover, Etling went to play action, rolled right out of the pocket and threw a pass that sailed over 40 yards in the air. Receiver Danny Anthrop caught it in stride for an 80-yard touchdown that made it 49-30 with 10:13 remaining.
“It started to show in the passing game today that we have a great chemistry with all these guys,” Etling said. “If we keep building a rapport with the core group of guys we have, then we’re going to keep getting better. It’s all up to us. We have the right guys here. We’re going to do it.”
Etling completed 33 of 49 passes against Indiana and was a bright spot on an otherwise miserable day in which Purdue relinquished control of the Old Oaken Bucket for the first time in three seasons. Given the nature of this team and the promise Etling showed, his status as the team’s starting quarterback entering next season seems certain.
Purdue coach Darrell Hazell said Etling has the potential to be “spectacular.”
“I’m not just saying that,” Hazell said. “I really believe that. He is starting to throw the ball with some accuracy. You are seeing the poise.”
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.
