By Craig Beilfuss
LocalSportsJournal.com

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND— Purdue linebacker Jacob Wahlberg had the best collegiate football game of his career on Saturday night.

The former Mona Shores standout led the Boilermakers in tackles in a 28-26 victory over Florida Atlantic. Wahlberg (6-4, 235 pounds) led the defense with 8 tackles of which 7 were solo tackles.

Four games into the 2022 season, Wahlberg is the fifth-leading tackler for Purdue. He has registered 14 tackles, 12 of which are solo tackles.

Purdue linebacker Jacob Wahlberg (Photo/Purdue Athletic Dept.)

“It was cool and a good game and I was able to zero in around the ball,” Wahlberg said.

Wahlberg is getting a significant amount of playing time as a second-string linebacker, but is hoping to one day work his way into the starting rotation.

“I just have to keep doing what I am doing,” he said. “We’ve got a real good linebacker rotation here. I just have to keep doing the little things right and find a way to help our team win at the end.”

As for getting more playing time, and to eventually cracking the starting lineup, Walhberg will leave that in hands of the coaching staff at Purdue.

“I just have to trust in the process and trust in the coaches,” he said. “If I stick to the process and continue to do good things … good things will happen.”

Purdue is 2-2 overall record and fourth in the Big Ten West at 0-1.

The Boilermakers hit the road Saturday as they will travel to No. 21-ranked Minnesota to take on the Gophers (4-0, 1-0) in a nationally televised game.

“Minnesota has a good football team and we’ll have to be ready to play a good football game,” said Wahlberg, who finished the 2021 season with seven tackles.

The game can be seen on ESPN2 at noon.

All photos below of #37 Jacob Wahlberg are courtesy of Purdue University Athletic Department