WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Joe Holland had accepted the idea of another position switch.

Near the latter part of fall camp, the former Bishop Chatard standout running back had moved from safety to linebacker with the understanding Purdue needed depth at that position. He expected to be a backup.

The Wednesday before Purdue's opener, Holland found himself working with the starters.

That was it. Three weeks at the position and two practices with the first team, and his first action in college football would come as a starting linebacker for a Big Ten team in its season opener.

"It was crazy because it all happened so quickly," the redshirt freshman said.

Holland made three tackles and broke up a pass in Purdue's 42-10 home victory over Northern Colorado, and he'll likely start again Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium against No. 16 Oregon. Purdue coach Joe Tiller said Tuesday that senior Jason Werner isn't expected to play due to back issues.

Recruited as a safety, Holland had a good second half against Northern Colorado, pressuring the quarterback one play, then batting down a pass a little later.

"Joe can run. He's a very tough kid, a very smart kid. I think Joe's going to be fine," Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack said. "It's just hard to ask a kid to come out after eight days of practice in a position he's never played before. He settled down the second half and did some nice things.

"I think you're going to see a big improvement in Joe the next couple weeks."

Holland played two games at linebacker in high school as a sophomore before moving full time to running back, but spot duty in high school and facing a top-20 college team noted for its playmakers are tasks a world apart.

Holland does have a mentor in Werner, even though the two were rivals to some extent in high school.

"It really helped having a guy like Jason Werner there in front of me, helping me learn, always teaching me," said Holland, who missed spring football with a hamstring injury. "He really got me to the point I was able to actually play with the (starters)."

Separated by two years, they went to different athletic powers in the Indianapolis Catholic Archdiocese, Holland to Bishop Chatard and Werner to Roncalli.

Holland said Werner is the one who tells people that Werner and Roncalli lost to Chatard in the basketball sectionals when Holland was a freshman.

Holland and Werner also faced each other in track. Holland remembered Werner beating him in the 100 and 200.

"I was third in each race," Holland said with a smile.

After finding out he would start against Northern Colorado, Holland called his parents. He wished he was calling for a reason other than Werner being unable to play.

"Coming into camp, I was looking to make a spot on special teams, help out in nickel and dime situations. I never thought I'd be coming in and starting against the Oregon Ducks," Holland said.

"But like I said, I wish I could have gotten this spot a different way."