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BY CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor Taylor Stubblefield left Purdue as college football’s all-time leader with 316 receptions. He was 6-foot-1 and barely 180 pounds, but he made the most of his gifts. He became the NCAA all-time leader thanks to Tiller’s pass-happy offense, Doug Griffiths, Indy Sports Legends correspondent and former Gold and Black editor, said. “To his […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor Before there was Dustin Keller, there was Dave Young. In 1980, Young’s All-American senior season, he became the first tight end to lead the nation in receptions per game, hauling in 70 passes for 959 yards and nine touchdowns as a top target for Mark Herrmann. “He was way ahead of his […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor Brian Alford was the first of the ultra-productive receivers during the Joe Tiller era. He was a first-team Football News All-American and second-team Associated Press All-American in 1997 during Tiller’s first year, when he caught 63 passes for 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns. That season, he had 215 yards against Minnesota […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor John Standeford is Purdue’s career leader with 3,788 yards. He set a school record that still stands with 1,307 yards in 2002, then followed with 1,150 yards in 2003. “He had all the tools coaches are looking for in a receiver, including good size, really good hands, speed and understood how to […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor The man known as All-American Bernie Flowers passed away last year, but he left a legacy as one of Purdue’s all-time greats. Flowers earned consensus All-America honors as a senior end in 1952 after setting school records with 43 receptions for 603 yards and seven touchdowns. The Boilermakers were Big […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor Jim Beirne was a first-team All-American in 1967 for coach Jack Mollenkopf. That year, he caught 45 passes for 643 yards and five touchdowns as the primary target for Mike Phipps. He had bigger numbers the previous year, with 68 catches for 837 yards and eight scores as Bob Griese’s […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor Dorien Bryant was electrifying as the top target for current NFL quarterback Curtis Painter. He caught 292 passes, second in school history, for 3,548 yards, third in school history. His 21 touchdown catches are tied for fifth in Purdue annals. During his senior year in 2007, he caught 87 passes […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor Tim Stratton won the first-ever Mackey Award for the nation’s best tight end as a junior in 2000, catching 56 passes for 579 yards and two touchdowns as a top receiver for Drew Brees. “Not the most physically gifted tight end Purdue has ever had, but excelled at catching the football […]

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor Vinny Sutherland was one of Drew Brees’ most dangerous big-play threats. “It seemed like he was shot out of a cannon when he was on the field,” Doug Griffiths, Indy Sports Legends correspondent and former Gold and Black editor, said. “One of the fastest players to ever play the position […]