Purdue Football: Is Ryan Kerrigan the Best Defensive Lineman in the Country?

Purdue football has had a season that some fans would like to forget, and likely will forget, but there have been some bright spots in the season.  One of those bright spots is defensive end Ryan Kerrigan.

Kerrigan, the 6'4", 263-pound senior defensive end out of Muncie, Indiana, has had quite the season so far, earning numerous honors.

This season Kerrigan has recorded 11.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for a loss. He leads the Big Ten in both of those categories, and also leads the nation in the tackles for a loss statistic. He's second overall in sacks to Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson.

Along with these stats on the season, Kerrigan owns both the Big Ten record for most forced fumbles in a career, with 14, and is tied for the NCAA record with that number.

Kerrigan has the opportunity to be Purdue's first All-American since 2004 when wide receiver Taylor Stubblefield was selected, and the first defensive player since 1986 when defensive back Rod Woodson was given the honor.

Kerrigan is also up for the Chuck Bednarik award, given to the best defensive player in the nation.

He's as semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award, too, given to the best lineman in the country.

Kerrigan is very highly praised by his teammates and coaches.

After the game against Michigan where Kerrigan had four sacks, five tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles, freshman quarterback Sean Robinson had this to say:

"He’s an awesome player and awesome person. He is more of a quiet leader, but you can see how he really led our team today." 

Everyone had only great praise for Kerrigan after the game.  Head coach Danny Hope even went as far to say this about Kerrigan in the press conference following the game:

“Sometimes it’s more important to have someone for the younger players to emulate than great coaching and great recruiting."

Kerrigan is not only a great athlete and great defensive end, but he very well could be the best defensive player in the country.  

With a work ethic matched by very few, Kerrigan is a definite first-round draft pick this season. He will attempt to lead his Boilermakers to a bowl game by winning their final two games of the season against Michigan State and Indiana.

James Evens is a Purdue student and College Hoops Featured Columnist, along with being the Football/Basketball FC for the Boilermakers and a Writing Intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.