By Kyle Charters
Asst. Sports Editor

For senior Chukky Okobi, moving to the left two feet on the offensive line isn't a big change.

"It's not as much of an adjustment as everyone is making it out to be," said Okobi, who is getting extensive practice at center this spring after spending most of his first three years at right guard.

Okobi does have some experience playing center. As a sophomore against Rice in the 1998 season, Okobi replaced regular starter Jim Niedrach in the game after Niedrach was injured. The injury was bad enough to keep Niedrach out of the lineup for the next two games. As a result, the versatile Okobi replaced him in the middle of the line. So with those two games of experience and the graduation of Niedrach, Okobi is now the primary center.

"Now, it's just an everyday thing," said Okobi, who was selected Second team All-Big Ten in 1998. "It's like going from part-time to full-time. So it hasn't been that big an adjustment."

But Okobi admitted that there are some differences between the positions, the most obvious being that the center has to successfully hike the ball to the quarterback. The center also has to be able to direct the offensive line and make minor adjustments based on the movements of the defense.

"It's just getting in the rhythm of things and knowing how things look and feel from that spot," said Okobi. "Because I know how things look and feel from that guard spot … Everybody's got a different job so it's a little change. But football is football. I'm out there blocking. I've just got to do one more thing."

Purdue coach Joe Tiller said Okobi is doing an adequate job in his new role in the middle of the line.

"I don't mean to say that he was doing poorly, but I thought he was doing OK," said Tiller. "He just needs practice time. I really think he'll come out of the spring hitting on all eight cylinders. I think he'll be fine; he'll do a good job."

But just in case Okobi, who missed the first six games last year because of a torn bicep muscle, can't make the adjustment, Tiller has a backup plan.

"We're kind of fortunate in the sense that we have Gene Mruczkowski that can play there too," said Tiller.

Mruczkowski, a sophomore who started 13 games last year at left guard, has been also been getting some practice time at center. But as of now, Tiller said Okobi is the starter.

"Unless we come out of the spring and decide that maybe Gene should be the center and Chukky should be the guard," said Tiller. "But we'd like to play Okobi at center because of his (experience). Although Gene is turning into one of our more efficient linemen, he's never started a game at center."

Okobi's move on the offensive line has forced another adjustment. To fill Okobi's hole at right guard, fifth—year senior Ian Allen has moved from tackle to guard.

"I like the adjustment so far, and mind you it's not by plan, it's by necessity, that we're working Ian Allen at guard," said Tiller. "He's getting all the reps, plus he's got to play tackle."

Along with Allen, backups Sean Rufolo and Max Miller have changed positions on the line. Rufolo, a junior, moved from center to guard and Miller, a sophomore, switched from guard to center.

With the movement on the line, Okobi thinks it will take time before the unit, which returns four of five starters from last season's squad, begins to really work well together.

"Ian's never played guard before this spring, and the other people who have played are not used to me making the calls," said Okobi. "Those are just little things we have to get used to — chemistry — that's all it is."