Ryan Browne Named Alexander Award Player of the Week

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Purdue redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Browne fell a little bit short in the Boilermakers' 50-49 overtime loss to No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten Conference) on Oct. 12. Browne, though, amassed 118 yards rushing and 297 yards passing with 3 touchdowns. Purdue (1-5, 0-3) remains winless in conference play. But eyeballs observed Browne's incredible second-half effort and named him the Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week.

Purdue QB Makes His Mark

Browne stepped into the starting role for Hudson Card, who was sidelined with a concussion. Purdue was down 27-3 at halftime and Illinois was in a prime spot to put the hammer down. Browne, though, and his Boilermakers' teammates had other thoughts.

In the third quarter, Purdue scored 2 touchdowns in 8 seconds. Browne hit Jahmal Edrine on a 53-yard TD pass. Then, Nyland Green forced a fumble by Illinois QB Luke Altmyer. Will Heldt picked the ball up and ran in 16 yards for another TD.

Now, in the fourth quarter, after Illinois and Purdue put more points on the scoreboard, the Boilermakers took their first lead. Browne was in the middle of it all, continuing to show that he could run the Purdue offense effectively. Ben Freehill got an onside kick for the Boilermakers. Browne connected with Devin Mockobee for a 13-yard TD pass and a 2-point conversion to Edrine, giving Purdue a 43-40 lead.

Browne Almost Wins It

With time running out in the fourth quarter, Illinois hit a game-tying field goal to send the game into OT. Illinois scored a TD and added a PAT, taking a 50-43 lead. Purdue's Arhmad Branch scored on a 3-yard run in OT. Purdue coach Ryan Walters decided to go for a 2-point conversion. But Illinois' Dylan Rosiek tackled Browne, ending the ballgame.

Walters said he went for the 2-point conversion in OT “because we were in control of the game at that point. We clawed back in the game, something we hadn’t done this season, and I wanted to give us a chance to win. I hate losing.”

On Oct. 14, Walters said that Browne would start in Purdue's Oct. 18 home battle against No. 2 Oregon (5-0, 3-0) at 8 p.m. Eastern on FOX. “Ryan Browne will start the game on Friday,” Walters said at his Monday press conference, On3 reported. “I think just the way he played it would be unfair not to.”

Browne, at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, attended Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y. He committed to Purdue in October 2022 and signed his letter of intent in December 2022, 247Sports reported. But his play in the OT game against Illinois probably gives Purdue fans a reason to cheer.

The Shaun Alexander Award

One of the Maxwell Football Club’s most prestigious awards, the Shaun Alexander Award is presented to the best freshman player in college football each year. Originally named the College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award, the award was established in 2019. The inaugural winner was quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, while former Alabama and current Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs won the award in 2023.