It has been a long road back for Purdue football offensive lineman Marcus Mbow.
A season ago, his 2023 campaign was stopped cold in its tracks, as he suffered a leg injury against Iowa on Oct. 7 and spent the offseason rehabbing.
Now, he is back at practice, looking to cement his place as a starter for Purdue football and bring some experience to an offensive line that features three starters and six transfers this fall.
“I feel pretty damn good, man. I’m out there working. I feel just about 100. I can get the job done right now. After my injury, I knew what had to be done as soon as it happened. I just attacked that, went at it every day and tried to push myself every day and get the most I could get done that day until I got back,” Mbow told the media recently.
He admits the injury gave him perspective on how much he loves the game.
“I know how much I love ball and how much this means to me and my goals in life. Just not being able to go out and do what I do every day, it sucked. I feel like it’s definitely a good driving factor, a motivator for me,” the Purdue football offensive lineman said.
As a freshman, Mbow wasted little time establishing himself as one of the top offensive linemen in the Big Ten, as the Purdue football standout started 14 games for the Boilermakers. He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten and was a Freshman All-American. Mbow picked up right where he left off last year before his injury, moving up 2025 early draft boards and, again, making his presence felt for Purdue football before his injury.
His injury, sadly, was the tipping point when it comes to injuries for the offensive line last year.
“It was wicked. Just to see me going down first and then it was one by one with big injuries. It sucks but it kind of brings guys together. The guys who are hurt grow together, work together. It helps chemistry,” he said.
As he rehabbed, Mbow said he had a lot of time to think, rest and rehab his body.
“Couldn’t do much. Just resting my body, working on a whole lot of different things with my body in the training room every day,” Mbow said.
As he enters the season and is a returning lineman, Mbow said he isn’t necessarily concerned with where he is on the depth chart.
“For me I feel I am going to work regardless of where I am at, who is in front of me or who is behind me. It brings more competition to practice,” Mbow said.
He has caught the attention of his Purdue football coach Ryan Walters.
“He’s better than he was a year ago. He’s as athletic a tackle as I’ve been around. I’m glad he’s on our team,” Walters said.
Purdue football kicks off the 2024 season on Aug. 31 at home against Indiana State.
