If you come to Boiled Sports for recruiting news, you're probably like me- you don't like getting too up or down about an athlete before he's officially a Boilermaker...But I've decided to break my own rule today and talk about a verbal commit.
Denzel Ward is 6'9" and only 285 pounds as he gets ready to head into his Senior season in Bradenton, FL. But the fact that he's already a mountain of a man isn't what makes his verbal commitment large for Coach Hazell.
Normando Harris and Akeem Hunt welcome Ward to Purdue
Before coming to Purdue for a visit this week, Ward was a lean toward Florida. He had the Gators leading the likes of aOSU, Oklahoma and a few others. While major programs were on board for this big OT, the recruiting services didn't have him as a four-star...neither Scout nor Rivals had him higher than a three-star. And while this post is kind of inconsistent with the way we regard verbal commits, we're very consistent in our belief that stars and rankings aren't as impressive as big time programs and coaches extending offers...and Ward definitely had that.
If things go according to his plan right now, Ward will join the talented and green RS Frosh OL class that will play a huge role in Hazell's blueprint for success...make no mistake, that this verbal, while not guaranteed to a Boiler just yet, is a big deal.
Hazell had started out the recruiting class pretty slowly with the verbal commitment from some undersized, but talented WRs that mostly had MAC offers...but last week things turned a bit as Hazell had a few more guys commit to the gold and black after camping in God's country.
Some even bigger fish are waiting to be fried as a few of Hazell's needs, WR and LB, both could be fulfilled by players with huge upside and some pretty good offers competing for their services.
Recruiting is kind of an ugly business. Many have talked about how covering kids when they're 14 and 15 years old only helps create megalomaniacal pre-adults who become entitled men. Is talking about a 17 year old's plans for college, when you're 20 years older than him and have never met him, a little sick? Sure. BUT, the focus of this is really on Hazell's recruiting plan...he sent out his coaches to make contact and is now trying to get these guys on-board, in person, in the shadows of the house that Drew built (kinda).
CEO Hazell's early returns are already becoming evident.
Purdue football recruiting is something we don't spend a ton of time talking about around here...until they're officially Boilers. In our opinion, there's really no reason to get too wrapped up in a player's potential until you know they're going to be wearing gold and black. All that said, when a highly-touted player signs his name on the dotted line, then, then, you can dream a bit about what might be.
Early in Tiller's time at Purdue, we watched Chris Daniels break records and frustrate opponents by bulking up in the off-season, running precise routes and being sure-handed. We all wondered what a shiny new model would do in the new system. Standeford and Stubblefield quietly entered campus, with little fanfare, but went on to absolutely obliterate old records...and continued in the path of Daniels by thoroughly-frustrating DBs and DCs alike; they were a puzzle that couldn't be solved it would seem...an unstoppable force. Except in Stubby's case of course, a neighborhood pool fence and a girl wanting to go for a dip got him concussed during the summer and kept him off the field for a few games...but the dude still tore up the opposition upon his return.
When Tiller acquired the services of the Fort Wayne product, Selwyn Lymon, we thought the dream had come true...and the highly-touted, chrome-plated recruit showed a glimpse of what he could do as a Frosh in a blowout at the hands of UND. The future seemed bright...but as we know now, it wasn't to be.
And that's been the case over and over again.
The four-star signee is as rare as UFO sightings or glimpses of Sasquatch...and sometimes, after that player leaves Purdue, we ask ourselves, just as in the case of the mythological creatures- Did it really happen?
Al-Terek McBurse had a host of high offers and a high star rating to boot. As a Freshman, he showed that he could move in auxiliary duty...the future looked bright. But as a Soph, he didn't look like the back that was advertised. A little adversity, and he was off to greener pastures.
Close...but...
Most-recently, OJ Ross made an immediate impact as he showed his quickness and speed as a Freshman...But it was apparent that he was raw and needed to work on his route running. It simply didn't happen. Gary Bush started overshadowing Ross in spite of the God-given talent discrepancy...and Ross, while weighed down by off-field baggage faded out before being suspended last winter by Hazell. This morning, it seems that it's become official and Ross will not return to the team (according to message boards...I still haven't found concrete proof) for his final season at Purdue.
Ross is the most-recent case of the 4-star flop for our Boilers. Sure, you might argue that Ross had a pretty productive career...no doubt about that, actually. BUT, he didn't have a career that equalled his hype or his obvious talent.
Production is often a combination of work, attitude, talent and timing. Sadly, Purdue's highly-touted signees haven't had all four very often. We've said it over and over in a number of ways- Purdue players are generally fighters. The problem is, guys that have been told they're great their whole lives generally don't have that fighting spirit. The gritty players that overcome adversity become the darlings of our fanbase. The guys with a lunch bucket mentality are our favorites (not just BS', mind you).
Purdue currently has three former 4-star players on the roster- Sophomore DT Watson, Frosh TE Carvajal and Frosh QB Etling. Can this group of three be the first crop of high recruits to end the streak of bad mojo for the golden recruits? It would certainly seem that way.
Watson started his career on a promising note last season as he worked his way into the line-up about mid-way through the season. From all accounts, he'll be on the two-deeps again in the fall and seems to be on track to make some noise.
Danny Etling has made his presence known as he's shot up the QB depth chart to the second spot...and it seems that Joe Tiller thinks that Etling will be the guy come this fall. That's pretty interesting...Sure, Tiller isn't attending practice, but he talks to Hazell more regularly than you and I and is still pretty connected to Purdue. He thinks that Henry's accuracy, mechanics and run-first mentality isn't what the program needs. We'll see if his prophecy turns out to be accurate.
Carlos Carvajal is the one question mark in the group right now, it seems- Granted, he didn't take the typical route to Purdue after a year of prep school...and honestly, I'm not sure if he's a great fit yet. He's got swagger like a Miami player of the 90s, it seems...but that doesn't really jibe with Hazell's way. All that said, he's got an imposingly-long frame, and some pretty great tools to work with. I still think his mean streak might put him at DE before the first game in 2013; we'll see.
Whether it's Ross, McBurse, Plue, Kacinko, Lymon, Paxson, Kyle Williams, Bushong, Van Dyke or Kirsch...We Purdue fans can easily recall our dreams of grandeur and shattered expectations shortly after due to a wide range of variables and complications. Sure, players like Baker and Lindsay are sprinkled throughout that had solid careers, but the last real success Purdue had of the high-ranking players was probably Dorien Bryant...before that, Kyle Orton.
That's kinda sobering.
Part of that, of course is simply that Purdue doesn't get a ton of these guys, so the odds are a bit longer that they will have great careers. Solid high-three star guys tend to do quite well at Purdue; Short, Greg Orton and others come to mind right away. Hopefully Hazell's efforts will give us a bit of a larger sample to judge by, in the coming seasons.
Hart is going to be a senior in HS this fall. He's 5'9" and 154 lbs right now and Yahoo reports his 40 time at 4.4. Nothing wrong with speed at the wideout position.
B-dowd has pointed out in the past that one way to assess recruits (beyond star ratings, for whatever they're worth) is to take a look at their other offers. Hart's other interested suitors, to this point, were SMU, Tulas, Rice, Baylor and Texas State.
High school stats are often hard to judge, but as a junior this past season, Hart had over 2,000 receiving yards on 108 catches, along with 29 touchdowns. I'm guessing he's elusive.
Hart is a "solid verbal" at this point, obviously, since he has another year of HS to go, but congrats to Coach Hazell (and Coach Shoop) on their first 2014 recruit.
I've read and listened to a lot today about this incoming class...and a couple things stick out to me. First, the quote I liked the best came via GBI from a student...not a player...not a coach. But it was a reaction to hearing Coach Hazell speak this evening in Mackey.
"When you look at him compared to Coach Hope, he sounds more knowledgeable, sounds like he knows what he's talking about. Doesn't have those statements that make you scratch your head and wonder what he's talking about. He's concise, clear and you definitely can tell he's motivated." -Tyler Gray, Purdue University Junior
Tyler's right on- there aren't many wasted words with Hazell...fans notice that, students are noticing...players will notice. On the same point, Danny Etling said that he thinks Hazell might be upset if he doesn't complete every pass in practice. A new sheriff is indeed in town, and as recruits are all noticing, the culture has to change and is already beginning to do so.
Hope perpetually had problems with depth at multiple positions because it seemed like he had no plan...Hazell mentioned creating depth two or three times through recruiting, development and movement of players as needed...but still isn't too happy with the safety position; will need to move some corners.
This class doesn't seem expect to be great or even good because they're great players...they seem to believe that their collective work and discipline will make them better. Another quote I liked was from David Yancey. He said he felt honored to be able to just go into Mollenkopf and work out each day.
The sense of entitlement that some players show in college football doesn't seem to be evident with this group of 23 signees.
Hazell likes the versatility of this class a lot- from RBs that can play in the slot, to lineman that can play as OLBs in the 3-4, TEs that can move outside or DEs that might be able to bulk up and become DTs with a meal or two.
And speaking of Des, one of Hope's biggest weaknesses in the last two years at Purdue was getting new DEs to come on campus and become the next guys in the Den. But Hazell and the staff, in mere weeks added to the class at that position specifically:
Antoine Miles, Johnny Tompson, Danny Ezechukwu, John Strauser, Jake Replogle and Evan Panfil are the DEs of 2013. Miles seems physically most-ready to play right away. Purdue beat out Nebraska, Pitt, WVU, Cincy and others for his services. Strauser's uncle coaches at Pitt, and Purdue still beat Pitt and Illinois out for him. Panfil de-committed from Illinois to come to God's country...and Replogle was the fourth Replogle to play college football in the last 6 years...the others all went to IU.
Just to their right or left, the Tackles are Johnny Daniels, a late addition to the class and Ra'Zahn Howard, who comes to Purdue via prep school...he's a big dude at 6'3" 305.
DBs include Austin Logan, Tyvel Jemison, Leroy Clark and Da'Wan Hunte. Logan is the biggest of the four, seems to be a natural safety that chose Purdue over Northwestern, Stanford, IU, Cincy...others. One of the gems of the class comes out of this group in Miami's Leroy Clark who chose Purdue over Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Florida and a few others. He seems to the most-likely to see playing time the most-quickly. Clark's video from high school is really fun to watch as he seems to be looking to score all of the time, regardless if he's playing offense or defense or what the situation is...and he was a ball hawk.
The lone LB in the class is Dezwan Polk-Campbell...which leads me to believe that one or more of the DEs in this class will move away from the line in the spring.
Obviously, Hope focused on QBs in the last class, but Hazell said a wide-open QB competition begins in spring ball...we talked about the battle between Henry, Appleby, Etling and Marshall a while ago. I like these guys quite a bit already- Henry's leadership, Appleby's attention to detail, Marshall's athleticism and Etling's drive to not rest will make this a tough race to have any favorites...I really want to see the right guy get the chance to run the show; getting rid of the two (three) QB system will be an improvement regardless of whom is named starter in August.
Only one Olineman in this class. 6'7", 310 pound, Jason Tretter chose Purdue over Harvard, Yale, Columbia and others...he was recruited by Hazell at KSU as well. Methinks that a guy with a bunch of Ivy League offers won't have much of a problem retaining the playbook. Let's all remember that five OLmen redshirted last fall and will be Freshman again in the fall...and all of those guys are Huuuuuuuge.
Green stuck by his word.
Keyante Green leads up a group of talented RBs...and this group has a few interesting stories. First off, Green fought the fact that he grew up as a Tennessee fan and received a late offer from the Vols to stay committed to Hazell and co. Green had a boatload of offers including Tennessee, aOSU, Ole Miss, UCLA, South Carolina and others. Keith Byars III, (son of aOSU great, of course) comes via prep school, but had offers from Louisville, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland and others. David Yancey had four siblings go to Purdue before him and Dalyn Dawkins was a late addition to the class...the only guy out of Kentucky.
Purdue picked up Garrett Hudson and Matt Burke at the TE slot. Burke played in the US Army All-America game and had a bunch of Ivy League offers along with Boise State and others. He's big (6'6"), but I'd expect him to spend a year getting stronger as Holmes and Carvajal are in front of him.
Only three pure WR are in this class...all 6'2" or taller:
Dan Monteroso de-committed from BC to play for Hazell...and also had an offer from Iowa and a few MAC schools. Deangelo Yancey chose Purdue over Ole Miss, Mizzou, NCState and others and Myles Norwood comes to Purdue after spending a year in Prep School.
The guys that will be competing for playing time right away look like Green, Etling, Clark, Logan and Miles. QB, RB, DB and DE all are a bit thin OR underexperienced.
It's a tough position for this coaching staff to come in so late in the recruiting season and still be able to land most of the guys who were on board for Hope's staff...but the old staff's last thumbprint at Purdue was keeping in contact with these guys...then the new staff attacked the in-home visits as soon as it was legal and did a pretty solid job. I believe we'll see fewer Florida guys and more Midwesterners (specifically Ohio) in next year's class, but tonight, the staff can rest, at least for a few days, knowing their first collective action as a staff was a success.
Football signing day is a bit over two weeks away...and Hazell's nearly-complete coaching staff is pounding the pavement hard. They had recruits on campus last weekend, all of the players who were on campus attended Purdue's throttling of West Virginia...and a few of the coaches stayed for the entire game, according to Gold and Black.
At the end of the weekend, Purdue had two more verbals and a few guys who had changed their status from committed to another school to open and listening to offers from schools, including Purdue.
Just because we don't talk about recruiting here at BS doesn't mean we don't know that it's going on. But that said, we generally stay out of it because there's so much second-hand info out there and a ton of conjecture that clouds the picture. PLUS, and probably more importantly, and get this, NOTHING IS FINAL UNTIL A PLAYER HAS SIGNED.
There's a highly sought after player who lit up the Twitterverse in the last few days because, after a long commitment to Purdue, he got an offer from another school that gave him pause. Hey, I don't think anyone would fault a guy for thinking about and looking at all of his options. As a parent, if LBD was getting offers to play college football (which will never happen, by the way), I'd tell him not to commit until he's sure that he's going to that place. Not much good comes out of backing out of a commitment, even if it's a verbal commitment; it sets a bad precedent for later life.
But even the cleanest recruiting effort without any breaking of NCAA rules is a dirty business...Big programs use the middle programs to find a guy that they missed and then they throw a scrap offer at a player in the 11th hour. Typically, their name recognition pays big dividends and the school that put in the time and effort ends up holding the bag, but without the kid that they thought was a shoe-in.
If you want recruiting news, check out the Black Hammer- outside of Rivals or Scout sites, they're probably the best Purdue recruiting site around...and they do their own reporting from time-to-time, which is impressive. I don't think we know the guys personally and they didn't ask us for the plug, I just thought I'd give the heads up...we all have our niche after all. Ours is looking and sounding delectable.
When the guys are signed, we'll expound about them and let you know our thoughts. As of right now, the class looks pretty solid...but as we know from cases like a few clowns who currently play for UM, things can change literally overnight.
The stars aligned pretty well for me today- I'm awaiting a design review with a client this afternoon and just finished another project...so I had a few hours this morning with little responsibility. Coincidentally, it's signing day!!!
If you visit this site regularly, you probably know how little we like recruiting. And even more, we hate the grimy soap opera that surrounds verbal commitments, defections, bags of cash, car keys and promises of kids not having to take a class that will make them think too hard. But signing day is another story.
When the signatures are on the dotted line, they are no longer recruits, no longer prospects, but they're Boilermakers...and this year's class is exemplary in a lot of ways.
First off, like most of Hope's classes, these kids seem to really want to come to Purdue and play for him. Many sold the idea to fellow recruits via Twitter and FB and others spoke glowingly to the media about where they were preparing to play in college. A few years ago, Rob Henry started this trend by talking up the Boilers...this year nearly half of the class loved talking up West LaFiesta to their Twitter pals.
Rivals places this class at #35...you might notice that's a slight drop, but that's not because of anyone being lost at the last minute. But instead it was the commitments from the highly-touted drama queens players who waited until the last possible minute to announce their choice just for EsPNU, earlier this morning. In the conference, Purdue is fourth; an unfamiliarly-high place.
Here's our look at this large class:
OL
The biggest need coming into this season, by far, was offensive line. As skill and speed started rolling in early, I was reluctant to call this class a success as the need up front on offense was glaring. But as bigger and uglier beauties began giving their verbals, the class became better and better, in my opinion.
The foursome out of HS AVERAGES 6'5" 292 pounds...they're just mammoth. I think Hope will have the ability to redshirt them and give them a year to develop and get in shape...BUT, if Hope is around in five years, these guys might be one of the main reasons.
Jordan Roos was probably the most-ready to play as a Freshman before he blew out his knee in October. His recovery is going very well.
Cameron Cermin probably isn't too far behind Roos in development. Both Jason King and James "JJ" Prince will probably work into the rotation no later than their Sophomore seasons. Prince is 6'6" and looks to have the longest arms in the class...and King is a guy that I just like due to interactions on Twitter. King played a lot of his HS career out of a two-point stance and has great feet and loves to pancake ends.
The lone JuCo signee of this OLine class is Devin Smith. He's 6'5" 290...so Hope's class is consistent, if nothing else.
One interesting note is that three of these guys chose Purdue over playing for genius Coach Charlie Weis...even without UND as his employer, he's still pretty tough to like.
TE Jonathan Curry is a guy I like a lot. He's a good blocker, has good size at 6'2" 225 (probably will benefit from a red shirt year as he'll need to be around 250 to hold his ground). He had one of the best offer sheets of this class, choosing Purdue over Arkansas, Nebraska, Stanford and others.
Carlos Carvajal, a tall, lean, athletic TE recruit comes by way of Milford Academy. His lack of weight might make it tough for him to block in the B1G...but since he's a mid-year enrollee, he'll have a leg up on some of his teammates. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll land at DE as his long arms, speed and athleticism would make him a great speed rusher.
Ryan Morris chose to play for Purdue over UCF, South Carolina, IU and others. He's 6'5" and 241 and reminds me a bit of Charles Davis. He's sure-handed, a decent blocker and is tough to bring down once he's turned the corner.
QB Austin Appleby, Bilal Marshall and Aloyis Gray are the three QB recruits in this class (with a fourth perhaps coming soon). I love the way the ball fires out of Appleby's hands- he's got a great throwing motion, good size and a good head on his shoulders. He's already blown out his ACL, so that's out of the way...and that might be part of the reason he ended up at Purdue. His last season in High School was quiet on the field as his team struggled to find wins.
Bilal Marshal had offers from Northwestern, GaTech, Baylor and others...before choosing to play for Hope. I could see him running the wildcat in Siller's stead almost immediately as he reads defensive ends well and has great quickness and long strides when he's out in the field. I think he could also follow Siller in that he seems destined to me to become a slot receiver.
Aloyis Gray isn't quite as fast as Marshall, and only played quarterback for a season. I think he'll end up at safety after a redshirt year.
Erich Berzinskas is a walk-on and has already enrolled at Purdue.
WR
Hope did the right thing offering Danny Anthrop a scholarship...but this won't look like a charity case for long. He's lightning-quick and has been a dominant force just down the road from Purdue at Lafayette CC. His brother Dru plays for Matty...but he reminds me of another Purdue legacy (a few years ago), Jake Standeford (because of his motor and attitude) with Vinny Sutherland's legs.
The next guy doesn't just have Sutherland's legs, he looks like a clone. BJ Knauf is a lot more compact than Anthrop...the most noteworthy thing I find about Knauf is that he's got a pretty great sense of humor. He should be a good locker room guy right away. Unlike Sutherland, I don't think he'll play his first year on campus.
Cameron Posey has solid size (6'2"), very good hands, runs sneaky-precise routes and is deceptively fast. He reminds me of Drew Brees' favorite target, Chris Daniels.
Jordan Woods is a bit of a mystery man- I've never seen a video of him, he's got good size (6'3"), and not many offers.
DL Ryan Watson was one of the last guys to verbal to Hope...and his verbal seemed pretty soft when it happened. But, surprisingly to me, it stuck and he'll be coming to Purdue. He is listed at DE, but reminds me a bit of Kawaan Short when he came in...and will probably play inside after a red shirt year next to Gaston. Purdue beat out Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Nebraska, Michigan, MSU, Wisconsin, Tennessee and others for Watson's services.
Kingsley Ike has my favorite name of the class. He reminds me a bit of Anthony Spencer as he is very quick on the end and has a swim move that made his foes whiff time and again as he swallowed up their QB. He plays with an attitude, mean-ness and swagger that I like quite a bit...in that way he's a bit like Shawn Phillips.
Greg Latta is a JuCo transfer who is already on campus and will play DE. At 6'6" and 265, he's physically ready to play right now.
LB Andy Garcia is a tightly-packed 6'0" player who is a sure tackler with good quickness and a pitbull mentality. I'd like to see him get a look at FB as well.
Jimmy Herman plays well in space and has solid closing speed...he'll benefit from an RS year.
DB Anthony Brown reminds me a bit of Josh Johnson, and will probably see the field no later than his Soph. year. I got to see Warren Central's Jordan Shine play in person a few times. He's a ball hawking safety who hits very hard, but isn't the biggest guy, yet. I think he'll remind you a bit of a healthy Albert Evans.
K
With Carson Wiggs looking to play later in the weekend in 2012, Hope knew it'd be tough to fill his void...so he signed not one, but two kickers. Paul Griggs and Thomas Meadows are those guys. Griggs will probably be the starter as he has a huge leg; similar to Wiggs in his ability to kick long field goals and was one of the top-rated kickers in the nation.
Will either grow into the title of "Most Exciting Kicker in America"? Who knows...but like Wiggs, one of them will be the starter from day 1.
One hole in this class, obviously is RB...but Purdue's situation at the position looks to be very strong for '12, but I wouldn't be surprised if Hope gets a big-time guy to buy into the program early next fall to take the place of Bolden/Shavers.
My Picks
This is wild speculation, but here are a few opinions of the class.
Instant Impact:
With Purdue especially weak at Safety, I think Jordan Shine will see the field early. I think the same of Kingsley Ike at DE...as that position is in even more need of immediate help.
Paul Griggs should come in and kick with accuracy and consistency right away; he's highly-touted for a reason.
Best in 4 years:
By the time he has left Purdue, I think Austin Appleby will have started and won a lot of games. After a redshirt year, my hope is he'll push Rob Henry and earn some snaps as his skills are completely different than Henry's. Maybe I'm connecting dots that don't connect, but I think his ACL situation is similar to Brees' in the simple fact that without that injury, I think he'd be someplace else...probably aOSU.
Biggest Surprise:
Danny Anthrop's quickness and ability to make plays on special teams will make him tough to keep off the field as a true Freshman.
Addendum:
A late addition of Joey Warburg Olineman from Kentucky, makes this class one of the broadest I can remember- they come from 13 different states. I think this is a testament to Hope and his staff leaving no stone unturned this year.
Matty's squad heads to Evanston tomorrow to play the slip-sliding Wildcats. Evanston has been a tough place for Purdue to play since Carmody took over 13 years ago...their offense is like no one else's and they play better zone than anyone in the league...typically.
This season has been tougher for Northwestern, statistically...they're allowing the second-most points/game in the league (67.2) while being sixth in scoring. Purdue edges them out on offense and is a few slots better on defense...but that changes nothing. Purdue needs to not simply accept the three point shot and Jackson, TJohn and co. need to slice up the Cat defense in order for Purdue to win.
Purdue is in an unusual situation, coming off of its first two-game losing streak of the season...and losing to the bottom of the conference is something they can't afford to do at this point. Hell, they losing to anyone right now isn't a good thing. The margin for error has been shrinking and continues to do so with lackluster defensive efforts by our Boilers.
Hopefully they don't dig themselves a 10-15 point deficit early on...those are tougher to overcome on the road.
Matty's squad's current CCR is 47.6...so they're nowhere near where they need to be if the season ended today.
Smooge Goes Off
With a ton of Celtic guards on the shelf, E'twaun Moore took advantage of the situation by propelling the Cs to a win v. Orlando last night. In just 18 minutes, he had 16 points in just 18 minutes...when he came in, the Celtics were down...when he left, the Celtics were victors.
Moore also seems to have a friend in HC Doc Rivers who spoke glowingly of Moore's fearlessness and confidence after the game.
T-Minus 4 Days
Football signing day is just four days away...and I've heard nothing to make me believe there will be significant attrition due to late sniping from other programs.
If the guys that verballed were to sign this evening, Purdue's class would be a solid top-30 class...the best for Purdue since the early oughts. Plus, there are a few rumors about additional players coming aboard more than defections.
This season, we've seen some slumping teams bust out of their slumps with the help of our Boilers. Butler couldn't finish against anyone, but found a way to overcome a large deficit to beat our Boilers on a kinda neutral court. You're welcome, Blue.
PSU hadn't had many reasons to smile at home, or elsewhere this early winter, but Purdue allowed a role player to get into the mid-20s and carry the Lions to their lone victory this B1G season.
Wisconsin was skidding out of control toward a cliff...and Mackey Arena and Painter's squad acted as a softwall for the lumbering Badgers.
Next up, the Boilers will be playing an Iowa squad that will probably on a three game losing streak when it steps foot on Keady Court.
It's Always Nice Seeing IU Lose...But...
Not many Purdue fans enjoy watching IU win games. In fact, we really like seeing them lose; but they haven't been doing much of that this season.
Full Disclosure: if I didn't have to see the red unis, the orangish coach or the fans in the stands, I'd enjoy watching that team play the game. They do a lot well- they shoot well, rebound well, are athletic and play well as a team...plus, unlike my favorite team, they have a consistent defense and an overwhelming offense.
But, being able to watch an IU game without rooting against them isn't an option for me in this state or on this planet...so last night's B1G nightcap was salve in the most-recent wound left by my Boilers.
But more than just enjoying watching IU lose at home, this one was good for Matty's squad. Purdue's road win in Minneapolis looks a bit better after tonight. Will Minny rally and make a run at the dance? Probably not...but thanks anyway Goldy.
And speaking of boosting the RPI, Illinois' big win over aOSU was really helpful.
Nothing's Official Until They Sign
Signing Day is two and one-half weeks away for college football. As of right now, Hope's class sits as the 27th-best class in all of the land. But, there are a few bluechips who are awaiting their bags of cash waiting to sign until the last minute with their favorite school that might change the rankings among the top-10...and of course the dreaded defection is always in the back of the minds Purdue fans. That's especially true since two or three of Purdue's verbals are still taking visits and sound less-than-solid on their "commitments."
Hopefully most of them stick.
The Black Hole
On the way back from the game tonight, I came up with the nickname "The Black Hole" for the high end seats on Mackey. Sure, they're comfy and the view is stunning...but about half of the purchasers of these seats might not even know it since they never come to the games.
There's been an ongoing discussion about these seats on Twitter and the Knucklehead board, and some Purdue fans seem bothered that other fans and alums are angered by the sight of so many empties. I'm more than bothered, I'm embarrassed.
Packed Mackey Arena: 1967-2011 (RIP)
Mackey was pretty full tonight in spite of lousy conditions outside...but those seats weren't. And they haven't been for most of the season. In all seriousness, if you're a rich guy who bought some of those seats and it's too much trouble for you to go to the games, e-mail us at boiledsports@gmail.com.
We'll find a Purdue fan to sit in your seats- guaranteed.
While your financial commitment to the program and the university is inspiring and important, your lack of commitment on game nights is a black eye on one of the best venues and programs in America...and the empty gold seats send an even worse and more obvious message.
Everybody knows by now that Calvin Smith has transferred from New Mexico to Purdue. Smith's road to UNM is actually more circuitous than just Florida to Purdue via Albuquerque.
Smith verballed to Lane Kiffin and Tennessee during his Senior year in high school, decommitted when Kiffin decided to go to USC, then went to UNM. Before deciding on the Vols, he had offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Mississippi, Purdue, Notre Dame, Arkansas and others.
Out of high school, we wanted to go some place where he'd get playing time and would make an impact right away. Before committing to UT, he talked about how he liked UND, Florida and FSU quite a bit. But, Florida got two DT commits and I don't know what happened to FSU, UND and others, but the offers were probably filled by other recruits. UNM's Mike Locksly was able to sell the idea of instant playing time to Smith, and UNM's coach lived up to his promise.
As a 6'4" 270 lb. true Freshman, Smith played in all 12 games and had 13 tackles, one a sack. Being a part of UNM's rotation right away surprised no one...signing at UNM surprised everyone...and he shocked a lot of people again by transferring to Purdue.
There's a lot of ways to look at this- You could be cautiously optimistic just because you don't really understand why he's at Purdue. A good answer might be that he'll have two fellow Hialeah teammates in God's country next season...more than anyone else. Or maybe, he's just a guy that likes to do things differently.
Twitter and the message boards has some dancing in the street just because this plays like bolstering next year's recruiting class...and he'll have a year to be around the team, practice and learn.
I lean toward being a bit more cynical just because this one doesn't make a ton of sense to me. He was never really high on Purdue coming out of high school...but unlike Marve, who went through visits again prior to his transfer, the Smith thing just kind of happened.
My opinion matters little at this point, because he's a Boiler now. So obviously, I hope he thrives at Purdue and am glad he's on campus. In high school, he was a prolific pass-rushing tackle- Think Mike Neal more than KK Short.
Boilers on BTN
Joe Tiller will be working for the BTN this fall and I'm looking forward to it. If you ever had the chance to hear the Ol' Purdue Coach talk outside of a press conference, you know how entertaining he could be. I'm pretty sure that his combo of knowledge of the game and storytelling ability will make him an enjoyable person to listen to on the network...Plus, it's never bad to have another Boiler there.
I had the chance to talk to Rosevelt Colvin last week and he told me that he will be on the BTN more than last fall as well...if you got a chance to see him in studio in 2010, you could see he was already better than some of the guys on the panels as he was comfortable in front of the camera and came off as smart without being smug. His increased role should be good for everybody involved.
Matty's Magic
Painter is in China coaching the US team in the World University Games. His squad won in an exhibition v. a professional Chinese team and begins official play tomorrow. His assistant coaches are two of the best in the college game; Cuonzo Martin and Brad Stevens.
Matty's coaching a few players he coached against in the last few years- MSU's Draymond Green, Bama's JaMychal Green and Mbakwe from Minny.
Wilson Goes Off
IU's Coach Wilson, who was one of the stars of the B1G media day a few weeks ago saw a different side of the media yesterday on Fox Sports Radio's Zakk & Jack Show.
I've heard Wilson has a pretty bad temper from IU students who have gotten the business end of the guy...but I really liked his appearance on this crappy show.
I don't listen to the show regularly...because it stinks. But I've listened enough to know that Trudeau comes off as a complete bag and Zakk seems to be a blowhard whose voice is pretty tough to stomach. Prior to putting Wilson on the air, they both were making fun of IU...which might be OK on a different day, but isn't very smart business right before you welcome their coach onto the show. You can hear it here.
Wilson probably could have showed a bit more discipline in the way he handled it, but he wasn't that out of line...the clowns who get paid to talk on the radio for a living were though.
A lot of Purdue fans were saying Wilson was out of line via Twitter and on the message boards, but let's be honest for a moment- if this happened to Hope, wouldn't you want him to defend himself and his program and be at least a little pissed? I would.
We all know that Purdue signed its smallest football recruiting class ever today, but here are some interesting notes:
-Purdue picked up a late commit from JuCo LB Kaulana Judd. I don't know much about this kid other than he's already 22, so he should be strong enough to play right away, I can't find any info on offers, he's from Hawaii and played his JuCo ball at Fullerton C.C.
-Danny Hope has been widely-vilified by media outlets ranging from EsPN's Urban Meyer to local Florida papers. All sources universally seem to think Hope lands some place between Hitler and Stalin following taking the scholarship offer to A.J. King off the table weeks ago.
The one thing that no one seems to be talking about is that, from what I understand, King was offered a Grayshirt from Purdue, which he rejected before the first of the new year. Let's keep in mind, Dwayne Beckford was once a grayshirt...so it's not a career killer.
Regardless of anything else, the pulling of King's scholarship for the '11-'12 season has turned out to be a bad PR move. I haven't yet heard where King will land.
-One of the guys that there's been a lot of talk about in this year's class is Fishers, Indiana product, Randy Gregory. He's a very good athlete. If you've gone to see Gary Harris play basketball this season, you've seen Randy Gregory play along side him. Gregory plays center currently. And by many accounts can be dominant on the hardwood when he sets his mind to it. While 6'6" is too small to play in the BT, his size and feet should make him a player that can do big things on the gridiron...if he gets the chance at Purdue. Regardless, his 210-pound frame needs a year or two to bulk up.
There are a few academic concerns swirling around Gregory...hopefully he makes it to campus.
An interesting sidebar about Gregory's signing is that it was late due to the fact that his school was closed today and administrators had to make a special trip in just so he could get his letter faxed to Purdue this morning.
-Even though Bellomy won't be at Purdue, Hope foresees using multiple quarterbacks on the field at the same time in the fall...let's hope some of the formations/plays are a bit better thought out than some of what we saw when Robinson was on the field.
-Brandon Cottom had a ton of solid offers. He hails from Pennsylvania, which is a good start, and has good size- 6'3" 235. I'm not sure where he'll be playing by the end of his career, but I think he might see the field next season on special teams because of his combination of solid speed and size. Hope says there's a possibility for him as a Fullback or H-Back.
-Akeem Hunt, Frankie Williams & Raheem Mostert are all very quick and have breakaway speed. Hunt & Willias were RBs in high school, Mostert a WR. On paper they're all very similar, but you don't know how that translates to a kid in uniform. I think they might all be able to be used on special teams, specifically returning kicks, right away. I really like Williams ability to break tackles and change direction in traffic. Mostert probably has the best break-away speed. Hunt can make people miss, but will either need to get bigger or change positions to see the field offensively next fall.
-Robert Kugler has decent size, good speed and good hands. And if Purdue plans on running two-tight end sets, he might be forced on the field right away. Remember, Purdue lost three tight ends last season including Adams and Lindsay.
-Shane Mikesky is a guy that I'm really excited to see play. Based on his highlight reels, he seems to be cut from the same mold as John Standeford- Deceptively-fast, long strides, good size and great body control. I honestly hope he doesn't have to play and can redshirt- that'd probably mean some of Purdue's young WRs have come along.
-Armstead Williams might end up being the jewel of the class by the time his time on campus is over. He had offeres from Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and others and chose Purdue. After watching some of Williams film, I think he might be very-well suited as a DE eventually...kind of like Cliff Avril came in lean to Purdue and grew into the role, Williams has a frame that should be able to pack on good weight.
There's a lot of talk around about this class being the last-rated recruiting class in the B1G. Here are some other things to think about before ruling this group out:
-Purdue's recruiting class of 1997 was also last in the conference...they did OK.
-As Rivals ratings go, this class average rating places it in the top-3 for Purdue classes in the last decade. Not sure if that's an indictment of Purdue's recruiting or that builds up this year's class.
-Once again, there's a lot of speed in this class...not much bulk. I'm not sure if I like this year-in, year-out.
-The late losses of a couple players sting, but it happens. If you study this group as I have, you can see there are some gems that were pursued hard by some big time programs. I'd rather have a solid kid who can develop, who really wants to be a Boiler, than any player who really doesn't want to play for Purdue...that's just me.
A few weeks ago, I previewed the incoming recruiting class. Two of my favorite players were, of course, A.J. King and Russell Bellomy.
My wisdom knows no bounds.
Russell Bellomy is set to become a Wolverine after a glorious visit to Ann Arbor (I've actually heard she gets around). Now that the dust is all settled, there's really only one thing that bothers me about the Bellomy situation, this quote:
"That's going to be a fun game (v. Purdue), but at the end I am going to shake their hand and look them in the eye and there are no hard feelings."
That's great. Russell has no hard feelings toward Purdue...good to know. I mean, you'd think when a kid gets recruited by a team, they pay for multiple visits, put all of their 'eggs' in his basket, the fans shower him with compliments, he'd have at least some ill will toward that school...Ammiright??
And more recently, A.J. King's schollie was pulled following a slow recovery to a knee injury. I'm not sure if I like this move a whole lot. But, it could be that Hope is simply gun shy of guys with pre-existing knee conditions right now (especially knee injuries). As of late, the football program has been little more than a recovery ward. Let's also not forget that Ralph Bolden came in with an injured knee and later was injured again. Also, Ishmael Aristide had a knee injury that kept him off the field for his Senior season and he still hasn't gotten his quickness back to where he was.
I hope King lands some place and succeeds...this stinks for him.
Signing day is tomorrow...I'm still hoping to see a late OL signing...but I'm not holding my breath.
Must Win?
Our Boilers came close in two-straight contests on the road versus quality opponents, but couldn't get the job done. Purdue has three games on the road remaining versus top-40 opponents...and all of them look winnable from where I stand. But, to win one, in my opinion, you've gotta figure some things out in a hurry. Tonight would be a great time to start.
Let's remember, Purdue is one of the only teams that's ever swept Wisconsin since the Kohl Center opened...Plus, this Senior class was part of the group that did that. Since Hummel has been the Badger killer in the past, hopefully he can impart some of his wisdom on the guys who are available for the job this time around. Methinks it'll almost have to be Smooge to make it happen. Regardless of whom makes it happen, it'll be no small task.
Sure, we have readers who think we're not paying attention to Purdue sports this summer. But, my pals at Comcast have been doing their best to derail the awesomeness that is BS. I haven't had a consistent internet OR phone, thanks to Comcrap in 10 days. So, between losing signal, I've been reading my sports updates on my iphone...and AT&T's fantastic service has allowed me to check the internet on my phone at speeds similar to my Net Zero dial up back in ought-ought.
Honestly, it couldn't happen at a better time as there isn't a ton going on around my favorite sports program. Sure, the yahoos are releasing their prognostications for this coming fall...and our Boilers are falling into their predictions of conference standings anywhere from the upper middle to the lower-third of the conference. All that's inconsequential.
But, getting a verbal from another solid QB is noteworthy. Granted, I'm not a big fan of slathering attention upon a kid who's not signed- so much can change between now and February (read as 'we need an early signing period for football')...but, Russell Bellomy has been a Purdue lean for a few months, so he seems like a pretty safe bet to come to Purdue (unless UT or another of their ilk decides to flutter their collective eyelashes at the Arlington, TX native).
The thing I'd like to look at is what this does to Purdue's stable. If I was a betting man, which I'm not, I wouldn't put money on this happening as planned. Injuries, defections and position changes coaching changes and anything else can render this handy-dandy chart useless. Plus, I think Rob Henry will be playing another position as early as this fall...and will be a damned-good slot receiver by the time he leaves campus. But, once again, that's just an educated guess.
What we do know is that 18 and 19 year olds change their minds from time-to-time, so things can change. But we also, as a fanbase, should be very excited and pleased that a player with offers from MSU, Boise State and a ton of others thinks Purdue is the bestest of the bestest. I'd guess Bellomy will be a high-3 or low-4 star-rated recruit come mid-fall. But moreso, this kid is really smart, has a good arm, possibly better feet and plays against very good competition down in Texas...what's not to like?
What might be more interesting to note is Danny Hope's taste in quarterbacks. All five of those with the highest odds to become a starter in the next 5 years seem to be able to pass the ball well and run as the situation dictates. Run-first and pass-only QBs seem to need not apply. Plus, these types of QBs like what they see and hear from Hope and Nord.
My opinion of Hope's recruiting philosophy and results is "so-far, so-good". If the quality of players and speed of the team keeps trending the way it is, as Hope builds depth across the board, Purdue will be a team that people outside of the Purdue family won't be able to ignore.
While I'm nowhere near the expert on the topic of young men that J is, I'm still a big fan of 18 and 19 year old athletes. So, today is a very special day in the halls of the BS world headquarters. Both J and I are walking with a hop in our step and you can see the twinkle in our eyes...It's Signing Day.
In previous years, a few athletes have gotten away and never made it to God's country to pursue higher education...Not so in '10. The class is a good stepping stone, in my opinion, to Hope's goal of a continued effort for Purdue to land more-athletic, and faster players at each position.
Here are some of the players that I'm excited to see on campus:
Bruce Gaston 6'2" 290 (+++) DT Gaston, Melton, McDaniel, Short and Mondek in a season or so might be the most-formidable group of run-stopping DTs we've seen in WL ever. The depth at the position is might lead to one of these guys heading to offense, but it won't be Gaston. I'm stoked Bruce made it to Purdue as I thought the Williams departure might push Gaston another direction.
O.J. Ross 5'10" 175 WR If you've seen Ross' hightlight films, you see he wears #9...but don't compare Ross to Dorien Bryant. Sure, they might both be speed merchants on the shorter end of the WR height spectrum, but I don't see him as a DB clone. First, I think he'll put on some muscle a la Steve Smith. Second, he runs behind his pads a bit more and can shed a tackle a bit better than Bryant. Lastly, he seems to catch the ball well with his hands rather than relying heavily on his body to make grabs. Ricardo Allen 5'9" 170 CB Like his two Mainland counterparts, Allen has speed for days. These three are all Boilers because of the impact the aOSU game had on them and their collective recruiting visit.
He had offers from nearly everybody and might be able to make an impact right away. With the depleted defensive backfield in '10, look for Allen to make the field very early...he almost has to.
Sean Robinson 6'5" 205 QB If you've read anything about this guy, you know he's a competitor...and a winner. I don't think he cares at all that Robert Marve, Justin Siller, Rob Henry and Caleb TerBush are all vying for the same job, he just wants his shot. Don't rule out seeing Robinson in the two-deeps this fall. He can throw a lot of different balls, has great size and he has the ability to run it.
Plus, he verballed a long time ago and never wavered in spite of a crap ton of good offers...Gotta like that.
Ryan Isaac 6'4" 255 DE Unlike the other four, he's not heralded...but I like this guy. He's got good size, decent speed and plays like the quarterback talked bad about his Grandma. You might not see him on the field in '10, but I think you'll see him after a redshirt year...and like Jack Deboef, watch out when he fills out...it shouldn't take too long.
These are but five players in this year's class...something with which you can whet your appetite. From Lucas to Torwudzu to Gilliam and beyond...there's lots to be excited for...Congrats to Hope and Co...and congrats to the Purdue football fanbase. This is a solid class.
Hope just got a verbal from Indy product, LB Joe Gilliam. Gilliam had a bunch of offers including, Nebraska, Wisconsin, MSU and others. He's got good speed (4.6) and good size (6'3") and will help bolster a position that will need depth in two seasons.
At this point, Danny Hope's 7 verbal commits look alright, especially compared to last years single verbal at the beginning of August, but who are the guys that are leaning toward Purdue that might fulfill some key needs? Better yet, what positions should Coach Hope be focusing on for the class of '10?
I think the best place to start would probably be Hope's wheelhouse, the offensive line. Nearly one-third of Hope's big, beautiful uglies will graduate after the '09 campaign...and, in my opinion, we won't have Ken Plue for too long after his Soph. campaign...if his shedding of pounds equates to the type of increase in speed that I think will become obvious. But at least two guys wo are currently DTs on the roster will be converted to the other side of the ball next month...In my opinion, Josh Davis will become an OL before he ever steps on campus. While he needs to gain weight, he's got great size and good speed for the offensive side of the ball.
Next priority, or maybe a bigger priority, depending on how some of last year's recruits shake out is the defensive backfield. Hope will lose all four starting DBs after this fall...The only reason I don't put this position number one, is I think at least two shut-down corners were listed as ATH in last year's recruiting class, but the position of Safety is a large question mark.
The next position of note would be running back. Not only will Purdue lose Taylor after this season, but also Frank Halliburton. And while the system might make Halliburton's numbers unremarkable and Taylor's knee might keep his numbers down in '09, both losses will be noteworthy because both players are good huddle guys.
The last position that I think is a must to see someone signed in the near future is P/K- I think Hope will look for a guy who can do both to save the schollie.
Jewel of the Class (So Far) In my opinion, there's no doubt who the most-noteworthy recruit of the class is so far- Sean Robinson. Purdue beat out some very good programs for his services, and Marves recent injury makes him even more important.
Scout v. Rivals A bunch of you guys visit both Rivals and Scout daily for a bit of Boiler news...and this isn't news for you- but most of you only visit GBI. So, I'll save you a few moments- Rivals, like last season is doing a much more accurate job watching Purdue's recruiting effort thus far.
For one thing, Scout is missing two athletes that have committed in the last two weeks...plus, they seem to be the Johnny-come-too-late when it comes to stories on new recruits.
How the Boilers Compare As of this week, Purdue looks a bit like Northwestern, Wisconsin and IU when it comes to the number of commits and the type of players committed at this point in the recruiting season...a lot can and will happen, but last year at this time, Purdue was clearly number 11. aOSU, PSU and UM (not surprisingly) all have a bevy of verbals with a slew of stars next to their names...but the Lions and Bucks both have two five-star recruits, the Wolverines have 0.
I like Danny Hope...I'm excited about the change that's upon my alma mater's football program. A lot has changed around Mollenkopf, but some things seem to be stuck in the old way of thinking.
Hope made a bit of a splash in his first year recruiting players to West Lafayette as he landed 4-star back, McBurse...he wrestled Gabe Holmes away from FSU and others, he got Eric Williams to buy in over Nebraska and Ole Miss, and Coach Hope got former blue-chip QB and current knee injury patient, Robert Marve to call Ross Ade his home stadium.
These guys and others show that Danny Hope can recruit, and the players that have chosen to play for coach Hope as well as those that used to play for him as a positions coach speak glowingly of the man...All positive.
But, the Joe Tiller way of recruiting seems to still be prevalent. Cowboy Joe believed he could do big things at Purdue, but Coach Tiller of the latter seasons in West Lafayette didn't buy into the old story any longer. He stopped going after 4-star (and higher) players because of guys like J.B. Paxson and Selwyn Lymon. He seemed to think all talented and highly-touted players weren't worth the trouble. And while Tiller's wisdom is somewhat correct in the fact that the majority of these blue-chippers are huge fans of themselves, not all of the highly-touted players are destined to be bad team mates and uncoachable troublemakers.
In the top-40 players list (according to Rivals.com), Purdue currently has one offer on the table...and that guy has already decided to play at UNC. Granted, in the 41-100-ranked players, the number jumps WAY up to three offers. So, Coach Hope and company have given 4 offers out to the top-100 players in the nation. Huh.
I'm not saying that star rankings are everything- if you visit here regularly, you know that we don't believe recruiting magazines make the college football world rotate. But, undeniable talent can make a world's worth of difference to a program in a hurry...And where is the harm in offering a kid who fulfills a need? I know there are only so many hours in a day to spend traveling around the nation and scouting players, making living room visits and watching game tape, but just like selling-out on the field, the staff needs to think big and put in big-time effort.
I love my alma mater...but the pervasive mindset of small-time thinking within the athletic department has bothered me for years. Sure, most blue-chip players end up at Florida, USC and other storied programs of that ilk, but there are some coaches who don't buy into the Joe Tiller philosophy of football recruiting.
Here are some of the schools that have offers to players in the top-40- Kansas State, South Florida, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Duke, Tulsa, Louisville, Pitt, UConn and Rutgers- who specifically has a ton offers in front of a ton of the top-40 players.
You might say, "Give the coach time..." And I am- I'm not judging the man solely on the recruiting classes. But, BT coaches like Ron Zook and Tim Brewster both were able to sell blue chip recruits the idea of early playing time in a BCS conference in the first two recruiting seasons of their careers at their current schools with positive results.
For Danny Hope to have a high-level of success...and to achieve the proverbial, nebulous "next level" of success, it's not only going to take solid players, it's going to take some world-beaters as well...I know, I know, I'm getting way ahead of myself, but what else am I going to write about in July?
A few things stood out to me when I read this article about Purdue receiving a verbal commitment from Illinois high school QB, Sean Robinson, who Rivals has listed as the 10th best dual-threat QB in the nation.
First being that the dude had 23 scholarship offers and Purdue got him. That says a lot to me about what kind of recruiters are in place. They weren't all schmo schools either; Iowa, Nebraska, Boston College, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Louisville were among them.
Next up was his quote “The (Purdue) campus itself as a whole is really beautiful. The town is not a huge Chicago-type area, but there’s plenty of stuff to do.” Really? Plenty of stuff to do. Shh, no one tell him the truth. I'm not sure what he considers to be plenty of stuff, but I think he may have the wrong definition. Well that is, unless he considers wondering where all the girls went once Winter hits to be stuff. Then there's plenty of that.
Later it says that "Robinson was drawn to the Boilermakers by their quarterback tradition. The opportunity to learn under recent Miami transfer Robert Marve also helped seal the deal." Is that a good thing? Maybe Marve has turned it around, but I'm not ready to hand him the keys to our future QBs yet. It seems a bit like asking Glenn Robinson to mentor Robbie Hummel.
This time last year, Purdue had one signee...and as the beginning of the season came and went, not many more signed on. As the verbals began piling up in the late fall, a host of water bug-type players, mostly from the deep south were happy to call themselves Boilers.
This year is quite different. Earlier in the week, two signed on- a big receiver from Indiana and a second possession-type wideout from Pennsylvania.
Today, two more players decided that they'd be Boilers. First, another Midwesterner, this time from Illinois, decided to join Danny Hope's Army. De'Ron Flood is a TE with decent size (6'3" 230 #) and speed that fits into Hope's offensive scheme (4.7/40). Flood chose Purdue over Colorado State, Kansas and others.
The second verbal that rolled in today is another player from Indiana. Ryan Isaac is a (defensive/offensive) lineman who's 6'4" 255#. Purdue beat out a couple MAC schools for his services. You won't find much recruiting info on Isaac on Scout or Rivals, yet at least.
So, this year isn't exactly starting off with a bunch of super stars, but I don't think anybody expected that...but the speed that defined the class last year hasn't shown as a theme yet either, but all of the players are pretty large. It's very early and things can change...and there are a lot of FLA offers out there, but none have committed, yet. Clearly Hope is fulfilling some different needs in the '10 class.
I'm out of town the next few days...talk to you guys again in July.
