Purdue’s Gelen Robinson achieves 78-yard pick six (Video)

Purdue Boilermakers defensive lineman Gelen Robinson comes down with a fantastic 78-yard pick six on a halfback pass against Eastern Kentucky.

The Purdue Boilermakers have had a rough last few years in the Big Ten. One could argue that Darrell Hazell’s football team might be the weakest in the Power 5 entering the 2016 NCAA season.

That doesn’t matter in Week 1, as the Boilermakers have themselves the first great defensive highlight of the 2016 NCAA season. Junior defensive lineman Gelen Robinson was able to pick off a halfback pass against Eastern Kentucky. Robinson took it to the house for 78 yards on a pick six.

Robinson played with great poise in pass defense on this particular play. His teammate chased the Eastern Kentucky tailback to the sidelines, forcing him to throw off balance against his body.

Tossing the football laterally across the gridiron is never the recipe for success in college football. The 6’1″, 275 pound Robinson timed his jump perfectly to pick off the errant pass. He moved very well on that interception return for a touchdown, despite being one of the bigger guys on the field for the Boilermakers.

Purdue was already up 14-0 in the first quarter before the Robinson pick six. Once his teammate was able to shake the Eastern Kentucky wideout chasing Robinson, the Purdue defensive lineman went into the end zone untouched from roughly the Eastern Kentucky 25-yard line.

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It may not be the best of seasons in West Lafayette, Indiana for the Big Ten’s Boilermakers, but that touchdown by Robinson has to have the Purdue faithful excited here in Week 1. Could a big time defensive play like this serve as a catalyst for Hazell’s 2016 team? He’ll a better season than last in 2016 to stay at Purdue next year.