If Purdue’s going to become bowl-eligible by winning its last three games, it’ll have to do so without its most productive threat in the passing game.
Head coach Darrell Hazell confirmed Monday that Danny Anthrop will miss the rest of the 2014 season because of an injury suffered in Saturday’s loss to Nebraska. The wide receiver tore an ACL in the fourth quarter of the defeat.
To add insult to literal injury, he suffered the injury at the end of a 28-yard punt return. That was only the third punt return of the season for the receiver, and it came with the Boilermakers’ trailing 28-7.
“You feel so bad for him,” Hazell said. “The guy plays so hard and brings so much energy and passion to the field, practice field, game field every single day. That’s what makes him a special guy. He’s a great competitor and absolutely loves the game.”
Not only will the junior miss the remainder of this season, but the injury and subsequent rehab will keep him out for most, if not all, of spring practice next year.
Anthrop is easily the Boilermakers’ leading receiver in yardage, topping the team with 616 (No. 2’s at 218). His 38 receptions and 16.2 yards per catch are also tops on the team.