A Look at Purdue's 2008 Recruiting

[LordJeffBuck]

Purdue Boilermakers

Was it just three short years ago that the Purdue Boilermakers were beating out Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame for blue chip prospects like Selwyn Lymon, J.B. Paxson, Eric Hedstrom, and Greg Orton? Since that fabulous recruiting class of 2005, Joe Tiller's crew has signed two mediocre classes, and 2008 seems to be following the same course. In fact, if it weren't for in-state rival Indiana, Purdue (Scout star average of 2.30) would be battling Northwestern (Scout star average of 2.17) for last place in the Big Ten recruiting rankings.

Last season, the Purdue defense gave up an incredible 374 points (26.7 ppg), including 35 to Division 1-AA weakling Indiana State. Although the soft defense is an obvious area of concern in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers have netted only four verbals from defensive players so far. The star of the bunch is middle linebacker prospect Chris Carlino (Cicero (Indiana) Hamilton Southeastern; Scout 3*, #23 MLB), who racked up 103 tackles and 12 TFL's as a junior. The Boilers have also made an effort to shore up their defensive line, with verbals from three prospects: defensive tackle Kawann Short (East Chicago (Indiana) Central; Scout 2*, NR); defensive end LaSalle Cooks (Orlando Pine Castle Academy; Scout 2*, NR); and defensive end Robert Maci (Indianapolis Cathedral; Scout 1*, NR). Of the three, the 6-foot-5, 280-pound Short (80 tackles, 14 TFL's, 9 sacks) seems to be the most "college ready", while Cooks and Maci are rangy DE projects who will need some seasoning at the next level.

Although head coach Joe Tiller has a reputation as an offensive genius, his 2006 squad averaged only 20 points per game against Big Ten competition, and Purdue didn't even have to face the league's two best defenses last season (Ohio State, 11.5 ppg, and Michigan, 13.0 ppg, in Big Ten play). To remedy the lack of offensive production, the Boilermakers are bringing in some serious skill position talent. Recent verbal Albert Evans (Portage, Indiana; Scout 3*, #62 RB) is quite possibly the best running prospect in the state of Indiana (over 1,600 yards and 12 TD's as a junior), and wide out Roy Roundtree (Trotwood (Ohio) Madison; Scout 3*, NR) has already put up some impressive numbers in high school (48 receptions, 851 yards, 7 TD's last season). Athletic tight end Jordan Brewer (Carmel, Indiana; Scout 2*, NR) is a bit light (220 pounds) for blocking in the Big Ten, but at six-foot-six, he should create some match-up problems in the secondary.

Along the offensive line, Purdue has received verbal commitments from two well-regarded prospects: center Andrew Brewer (Ona (West Virginia) Cabell Midland; Scout 3*, #20 OG) and Rick Schmeig (Cincinnati Oak Hills; Scout 2*, NR). The Boilermakers are also making a strong run for offensive tackle prospects Emmett Cleary (Arlington Heights (Illinois) St. Viator) and Peters Drey (Mobile (Alabama) McGill-Toolen).

Purdue has also landed one of the top kicking prospects in the country, Carson Wiggs (Grand Prairie (Texas) South; Scout 2*, NR), who is adept at both punting (47 yard average) and place kicking (long FG of 48 yards).

Purdue is in a heated battle with half of the Big Ten for dual-threat quarterback MarQueis Gray (Indianapolis Ben Davis); landing Gray would certainly improve Purdue's class, and would give the Boilermakers their best QB signee since Brandon Kirsch in 2002. A solid signal caller with some mobility would definitely provide a jump start for Joe Tiller's suddenly moribund offense. Another remedy would be a top-flight receiver like Brandon Green (Chicago Robeson), who put up some XBOX-like numbers last season: 62 receptions for 1,875 yards and 21 tocuhdowns; Green has offers from most of the Big Ten, plus West Virginia, Kansas State, and Iowa State. Besides Green, the Purdue staff has also targeted a pair of tall possession receivers: 6-foot-3, 219-pound Khalif Staten (Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln; Rivals 3*, #5 in New York); and 6-foot-4, 178-pound D.L. Moore (Bowling Green, Kentucky; Rivals 3*, #4 in Kentucky). Moore's high school teammate, tight end Ryan Wallace, also has an offer from Purdue. Although the Boilers recently landed a verbal commitment from running back Albert Evans, the staff might still consider taking a power back like Arizona's Jamal Womble (Sierra Vista Buena; Rivals 3*, #22 RB, #10 in Arizona).

Getting quality defensive talent to West Lafayette will be a priority for the Boilermakers for the class of 2008. One of the chief targets is Ohio defensive end Whitney Mercilus (Akron Garfield; Rivals 3*, #23 in Ohio), who has Purdue at the top of his list along with Illinois and Michigan State (both offered). Mercilus is a fast-rising prospect who has flown under the radar of the major programs. Another defensive end prospect who has serious interest in Purdue is Michigan's Chris McDonald (Sterling Heights Utica Ford; Rivals 2*, NR), a 6-foot-5, 260-pounder who has the size to grow into a defensive tackle, but the speed (4.65 forty) to play outside.

The Boilermakers appear to be close to landing verbal commitments from a pair of athletic outside linebackers: Nick Clancy (Joliet (Illinois) Joliet Catholic; Rivals 3*, #36 OLB, #11 in Illinois), who will decide between Purdue and Boston College some time this fall; and Derek Jackson (Glen Allen (Virginia) Deep Run; Rivals 3*, #56 OLB), who is leaning heavily toward Purdue and could commit to the Boilermakers in the near future. Other 'backers who are seriously considering the Boilers are Brett Nagel (Lemont, Illinois; Rivals 3*, #31 OLB, #9 in Illinois); Justin Staples (Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward; Rivals 3*, #33 OLB, #19 in Ohio); and Anthony Lewis (Aldine, Texas; Rivals 2*, NR).

As far as defensive back recruiting goes, Purdue recently got a commitment from safety Gavin Roberts (Franklin, New Jersey; Rivals NR), who selected the Boilermakers over UConn, Temple, and Akron. Purdue is in the final three for Florida cornerback Dominique Battle (Delray Beach American Heritage; Rivals 3*, #50 CB, #90 in Florida), and is also solidly in the running for Ohio corners Donnie Fletcher (Cleveland Glenville; Rivals 3*, #43 CB, #26 in Ohio) and Johnny Adams (Akron Buchtel; Rivals 3*, #45 CB, #28 in Ohio); Fletcher is also being recruited by some schools as a wide receiver, and Adams is one of the premier return men in the nation. In addition, the Boilermakers have an offer out to another Sunshine State cornerback, Kevin Green (Tallahassee Rickards; Rivals 2*, NR). The top safety prospect on the Boilers' board is probably Tommie Thomas (Oak Lawn (Illinois) Richards; Rivals 3*, #40 S, #16 in Illinois).

If Purdue lands most of their top targets (Gray, Green, Moore, Staten, Clancy, Jackson, Battle, and Thomas), then they should come away with a middle-of-the-road class compared to the rest of the Big Ten. But still, it's a long way from 2005, when the Boilermakers were hauling in four- and five-star recruits at the expense of the big dogs.

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