Reports: O'Connell, Durham, Jones and Trice, expected to opt out of Citrus Bowl
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell is expected to announce today that he will not play in the Citrus Bowl vs. LSU. Cory Trice, as reported earlier, has signed with an agent and won’t play. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg is also reporting that Charlie Jones is out and Payne Durham announced on his Instagram account that he won’t play.
O’Connell’s move had been anticipated. The sixth-year senior, will prepare for the NFL draft. He is No. 1 in the Big Ten in passing (290.8 ypg), hitting 64 percent of his attempts for 3,490 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
With O’Connell not playing vs. LSU on Jan. 2 in Orlando, Purdue likely will turn to sixth-year senior Austin Burton to start. He has been at Purdue the last three seasons after transferring from UCLA, where he started one game (2019).
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Burton has started a game at Purdue, leading Purdue past Florida Atlantic in 2022 and hitting 21-of-29 passes for 166 yards with three TDs and an interception in a 28-26 win. He has played in 12 games for the Boilermakers, hitting 29-of-39 passes for 243 yards with three TDs and an interception. Burton has rushed 26 times for 80 yards.
The backup vs. LSU figures to be redshirt sophomore Michael Alaimo. True freshman Brady Allen is the other scholarship quarterback on the roster.
