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Purdue Official Athletic Site

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue football coach Joe Tiller today announced the signing of 21 student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent to join four others for a 25-member recruiting class. The recruiting class is Tiller's 12th at Purdue.

The Boilermakers received signed letters from 12 defensive players, six offensive players, one player listed on both sides of the ball, one player listed an as athlete and one special teams player. There are four defensive ends, four linebackers, three defensive backs, three wide receivers, two offensive linemen, one defensive tackle, one punter-kicker, one quarterback and one running back-defensive back.

"This class is another step toward adding the type of student-athletes that have been successful here in the past," Tiller said. "It is the most talented class we have recruited in the last four or five years, and I would expect four or five and more of these guys to see the field for us this fall. Combined with last year's class, the foundation should be in place for a championship-caliber team down the road."

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Purdue Official Athletic Site

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - This afternoon, Purdue head football coach addressed the media to discuss the Boilermakers' 2008 recruiting class. Following are highlights from the session:

General thoughts on class ...
"We feel like this is a good group and a talented group. We are taking another step from an athletic point of view. We think these guys match those qualifications. We look forward to getting them all in here and working with them. We feel very good about this class."

On the coaching transition affecting recruiting ...
"We wanted Danny Hope to meet these guys and their families as quickly as possible. I called the recruits to reassure them that philosophically things weren't going to change dramatically at Purdue. I also told them they were going to be able to meet Danny now instead of them being on campus and having no idea who their head coach would be. That seemed to satisfy everyone."

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Tiller steamed after losing top prospect | IndyStar.com

By Jeff Rabjohns
jeff.rabjohns@indystar.com

A star recruit's signing-day decision to renege on an oral commitment had Purdue football coach Joe Tiller fuming Wednesday.

Roy Roundtree, a nationally ranked receiver and kick returner from Ohio, signed with Michigan on the first day of the college football signing period.
Roundtree committed to Purdue in May and reaffirmed his decision many times since.

He signed with new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez after a visit to Ann Arbor, Mich., last weekend.

"If we had an early signing date, you wouldn't have another outfit with a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil get a guy at the last minute, but that's what happened," Tiller said.

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• Class size: 25.
• Rivals rank: 64th, ninth in Big Ten. Quick assessment: "We feel like this is a good group, a talented group, an upgrade group. We're taking another step from an athletic point of view with foot speed, which we've been successful with here in the past," coach Joe Tiller said.
• Biggest need filled: Offensive line. Purdue landed five offensive linemen, three of whom enrolled in January.
• Biggest need remaining: A burner at wide receiver and returner after Roy Roundtree backed out to sign with Michigan.
• Step-in starters: Ken Plue, a 6-7, 361-pound offensive lineman who has been in school since January and is a four-star prospect, and 6-4 Arsenio Curry and 6-1 Aaron Valentin, a pair of junior college receivers.
• Keep an eye on: Carmel's Jordan Brewer could be a 6-5 wideout or gain weight to be a tight end. Hamilton Southeastern linebacker Chris Carlino is considered underrated in many circles.