Fifth-year senior Rob Henry will start at quarterback for Purdue when it opens the season against Cincinnati. Henry beat out redshirt freshman Austin Appleby and true freshman Danny Etling for the starting job.
Henry (6-feet-2, 205 pounds) started seven times as a redshirt freshman in 2010, ascending to the starting job after Robert Marve was hurt. But he missed the 2011 season with a knee injury and was a backup last fall, when he threw for 216 yards and three TDs and ran for another 74 yards and a score. He also played some at wide receiver last season and had six catches for 65 yards.
Henry is a good athlete who was known more for his legs than his arm in 2010. His passing ability remains a big question; he threw for 200 yards just once as a starter in 2010 and has just four 100-yard games in his career. But Henry has shown an improved touch during fall camp while working with new offensive coordinator John Shoop, a former NFL offensive coordinator.
Henry's dual-threat ability should help an offense that lacks a proven go-to receiver and is breaking in a new starting running back.
In high school, Henry was an all-state player at Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic. He followed former Florida quarterback John Brantley as Trinity's signal-caller.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
