Purdue junior quarterback Jack Plummer has started nine games for the Boilermakers in the last two seasons, but never a season opener. He's always been tasked with filling someone's shoes due to injuries.
There won't be any waiting for Plummer as Purdue takes the field Saturday against Oregon State. After winning the starting quarterback job during fall camp, he's ready to lead the team right from the get-go.
Plummer has come a long way since his first career start back in 2019.
"I think confidence wise, he's totally different. He's played some ball now. He knows what it feels like. He's become more of a leader more vocal, very sure of himself," Purdue quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm said. "He knows the offense like a coach. So he's very certain when he's out there and guys can ask him questions and look to him and know that he'll have the answer."
When Elijah Sindelar went down with a concussion in 2019, Plummer's first start came against TCU — and it wasn't all that pretty.
Plummer finished the game completing 13 of his 29 passes for 181 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. But he steadily gained more experience until he was lost for the year with an injury.
That experience is paying off in his fourth season with the program. Purdue looks toward all its quarterbacks for leadership, and the whole group has earned the respect of their teammates.
But Plummer has taken the extra step. He needed to, especially when it came to separating himself for the starting job.
Plummer ended last season as the starter while throwing for 938 yards and eight touchdowns in three games. It was evident that he carried that success into fall camp.
"Jack came out and just threw with confidence," redshirt fifth-year senior wide receiver Jackson Anthrop said of Plummer. "He just came out there and had fun. There's been some times where he might feel down a little bit. But this camp and throughout the last couple of weeks, he's just going out there throwing, getting excited, pumping guys up — and that's what you want to see."
Surely it was disappointing for fifth-year senior Aidan O'Connell and senior Austin Burton not to earn the nod. However, as soon as O'Connell learned Plummer was going to be the starter, he sent a congratulatory text.
An act like that speaks to the type of people Purdue has at the quarterback position. They've created a support system within the room, and the players are looking to help the team win in any way they can.
"We all got each other's back," Plummer said. "I feel like that's what it would have been like no matter who won the job. We would always support who's out there. So, it's good to see that between the quarterbacks. Someone's having a down day, they're trying to pick each other up."
Now, as Purdue gears up for its first game of the 2021 college football season, all eyes have turned to Plummer. But he's ready for the challenge and excited to step onto the field inside Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday.
And he's not looking to stop there.
"Knowing that you're the number one guy, I think it gives you a little bit more confidence," Plummer said. "It makes you feel better about yourself. But at the same time, I can't ease up on the gas pedal still."
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