Purdue DE on OSU’s radar

Associated Press

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.

Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan grins sheepishly when asked about his “Superman” nickname.

“I don’t really know where it stems from,” he said. “Maybe it stems from the demeanor I have on the field versus the demeanor off. It’s flattering. ... It’s kind of embarrassing in a way.”

The senior captain from Muncie, Ind., carries himself much like Superman’s mild-mannered alter-ego, Clark Kent, off the field. On the field, it’s a different story. He has 25 sacks and 45 tackles for loss in 42 games heading into Saturday’s game at No. 11 Ohio State.

Former Boilermaker and current Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Mike Neal gave Kerrigan the “Superman” moniker, and it has stuck.

“It has a lot to do with the way he plays,” Purdue coach Danny Hope said. “He can do anything from a player standpoint. He can go longer and harder than most. He’s faster than most. He’s bigger than most. Stronger than most. Smarter than most. Better looking than most. He’s Superman. He’s our Superman.”

Kerrigan ranks second nationally in tackles for loss (2.33 per game) and leads the Big Ten in sacks and forced fumbles.

He’s looked otherworldly when he’s played Ohio State. In 2008, he had two sacks, but Ohio State won 16-3. Last year, he had three sacks and two forced fumbles in Purdue’s 26-18 upset victory.

Another big performance against the Buckeyes this week could propel the Boilermakers (4-2, 2-0 Big Ten) to a 3-0 conference start for the first time since 2003.

“We’ve got some guys [in the Big Ten] that you better understand that they’re everywhere,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “So, I mean, he did some real damage against us a year ago. And so we’ve got to — we’ve got to have an answer for that one.”

The Buckeyes look forward to the challenge.

“As an offensive tackle, you love that kind of thing,” Ohio State’s Mike Adams said. “We’re football players, we love to compete. We’re Buckeyes. To me, that means we’re not afraid of any challenge. You kind of like the challenge, you take it as a chance to step your game up and see how you fit with the best.”

Kerrigan sees all kinds of efforts to stop him.

“People slide the protection that way where that way, he has someone facing him regardless of what gap he comes in,” Hope said. “They do everything that you can possibly do to try to slow him down some.”