Curtis Painter - College Career

College Career

Painter committed to play for Purdue University on July 28, 2003 under head coach Joe Tiller. After redshirting in 2004, Painter backed up starting quarterback Brandon Kirsch for the first six games of the 2005 season, ultimately replacing Kirsch as the starter for the last five games of the season. On the season, Painter completed 89 of 170 passes, for 932 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Painter became the Boilers' starting quarterback indefinitely after Kirsch left a year early of eligibility.

Painter started in 14 games in his sophomore season, where he threw for 22 touchdowns and rushed for six. He set the Big Ten Conference record in seasonal passing yards, breaking Drew Brees' 3,983 mark with 3,985. His 284.6 passing yards per game ranked seventh in the nation, while leading the conference. He led the Boilermakers to the Champs Sports Bowl, resulting in a 24–7 loss to Maryland.

Starting in every game in his junior season, Painter threw 29 touchdown passes and rushed for 3. He averaged 295.9 yards per game, which was 12th most in the nation, while tying Drew Brees's Big Ten season record with 569 attempts. He threw for six touchdowns, completing 38 of 49 attempts with 348 total yards against Eastern Illinois. In the 2007 Motor City Bowl against Central Michigan, Painter completed 35 of his 54 passes, with three touchdowns and threw for a Motor City Bowl record 546 yards with 540 total yards, which are also school records.

In his last season as the Boilermakers' main starting quarterback, the fifth year senior struggled with the absence of injured running back Jaycen Taylor and the graduation of Dustin Keller and Dorian Bryant. He hurt his throwing shoulder resulting in a 4–8 overall record and only appeared in 10 games with nine starts, while reserve quarterbacks, Justin Siller and Joey Elliot, stepped in his place. His top game on the season came against Indiana in his last collegiate game, where he threw for five touchdowns, while completing 38 of 54 attempts with a total of 448 yards.

Painter received criticism for his inability to win in games against teams ranked in the top 25 polls, which overwhelmed his career record numbers amongst the likes of his predecessors in Kyle Orton and Drew Brees. He started in 41 of the 46 games in which he appeared and went 987 of 1,648 with a total of 11,163 passing yards and threw for 67 touchdowns with 46 interceptions. He was co-captain along with Ryan Baker and Jermaine Guynn for the 2008 football season. He holds a degree in computer graphics technology.