Aidan O’Connell isn’t yet in Purdue’s “Cradle of Quarterbacks,” but the veteran QB has a chance to get there.

And if the 6th-year senior performs as expected — O’Connell is widely regarded as one of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks after the way he ended last season — then he’ll not only become one of Purdue’s greatest of all time, but he’ll be one of the most unlikely to do so.

There was no expectation of greatness for O’Connell when he arrived at Purdue in 2017. There was no expectation of anything. He was recruited as a walk-on, having chosen the Boilermakers over his only other opportunity — DIII Wheaton College — and came to West Lafayette in Jeff Brohm’s first season. At the time, the coach, as part of what was a major overhaul of Purdue’s program, which had won only 9 games — total — in the previous 4 seasons under Darrell Hazell, thought he needed to bring in a bunch of arms. So in ’17, Purdue had 9 quarterbacks in its camp, and O’Connell was No. 8 on the depth chart, only ahead of fellow walk-on Cameron Northern.

Things have changed.

O’Connell enters ’22 as Purdue’s unquestioned starter and its leader after beating out Jack Plummer (who has since transferred to Cal, where he’s likely won the starting job) midway through last season. After taking over, O’Connell blossomed, throwing for 3,712 yards and 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. Over the final 5 games, during which Purdue won 4 including the thriller in overtime vs. Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, the 6-3, 210-pounder tossed for 2,161 yards on a 72.5 completion percentage, with 19 touchdowns. And then he was named 2nd-team All-Big Ten.

So will O’Connell land in Purdue’s “Cradle”?

The exclusive group, which includes 12 members, is a foundation of the program, starting back when Bob DeMoss quarterbacked Purdue, then continuing when he coached other greats during his tenure as the Boilermakers’ head coach. It includes modern-day greats like Drew Brees (1997-2000) and Kyle Orton (2001-04), early standouts like Bob Griese (1964-66) and Mike Phipps (1967-69), plus Purdue’s best of the 70s and 80s, like Mark Herrmann (1977-80) and Jim Everett (1981-85).

Purdue’s most recent Cradle quarterback is Curtis Painter, the last of Joe Tiller’s 3 Cradle QBs (with Brees and Orton), who played from 2005-08. Big-time wins were harder to come by late in Tiller’s tenure, but Painter could spin the football, throwing for more than 11,000 yards and 67 touchdowns in 41 career starts.

O’Connell will come close to those career numbers if he repeats — or betters — his statistics from 2021. If he throws for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns — neither outside the realm of possibility — O’Connell will finish his career with nearly 10,000 passing yards and more than 70 TDs, and he could be one of the most accurate passers in Boilermakers history. But part of Cradle enshrinement is more than simply the numbers; it’s about winning and impact, too. And O’Connell has already placed those on his Purdue résumé.

O’Connell has shown a knack for the dramatic, having already set a Purdue record with 5 come-from-behind victories (after the Boilermakers had trailed during 2nd halves). He’s not only won games — Purdue’s 9 victories last season were its most since 2003 — but he’s won big-time games. In victories over No. 2 Iowa and No. 3 Michigan State last year, O’Connell passed for a combined 911 yards with 5 touchdowns and no interceptions, while completing 70-of-94 attempts (74.5%).

Purdue career passing yards leaders
1. Drew Brees (1997-2000) … 11,792
2. Curtis Painter (2005-08) … 11,163
3. Mark Hermann (1977-80) … 9,946
4. David Blough (2015-18) … 9,734
5. Kyle Orton (2001-04) … 9,337
8. Aidan O’Connell (2019-22) … 5,729

O’Connell is a quarterback who lives for the moment, as many of the Purdue greats have done in the past.

To become the 13th member of the club, O’Connell will have to continue to do so. There are many indications that he will. Brohm has raved — as much as Brohm raves about anything — about his veteran quarterback during training camp, calling O’Connell focused, locked in and a great leader. The Boilermakers have their deepest roster in years, and a schedule that lends itself to a quick start.

But much will be on the right arm of No. 16. If O’Connell fires the ball around the field, Purdue will likely win, and then Cradle entry will be a sure thing.