Purdue, Ohio State compete
for recruit
By Greg Doddridge
And
Paul Trembacki
After Ohio State football coach John Cooper was
fired on Jan. 3, the football recruiting wars for Angelo Chattams began
anew.
Now, the senior at Chaminade-Julienne Catholic
High School in Dayton, Ohio, is uncertain about whether he will sign
with Purdue or Ohio State.
What's certain, however, is that Chattams is a
quality player.
As a junior, he caught 80 passes for 1,486 yards
and scored 23 times. This past season, he caught the ball 63 times for
837 yards and seven touchdowns. Chattams also rushed for 509 yards on
55 carries scoring five times. He scored four touchdowns on punt and
kick-off returns, racking up 500 yards in the process. He runs the 40
in 4.4.
Those numbers caught the aggressive eye of Ohio
State. Chattams verbally committed to OSU on Aug. 17. However, early
this year, his mind changed.
"Things weren't stable at Ohio State after Cooper's
firing," said Chattams.
So he effectively withdrew his verbal commitment.
He has been contacted by Ohio State, Michigan State and Northwestern
since Cooper's firing. And Purdue has also been active in pursuing Chattams
since he went back out on the open market.
Chattams enjoyed his visit to Purdue two weeks
ago.
"The Purdue staff was great and the players were
great," Chattams said. "They wrote themselves in my book. It's been
Purdue ever since."
But Chattams is still pondering the decision.
"I want to make a decision soon," said Chattams.
"I'm still 50-50 between Purdue and Ohio State."
While at Purdue, Chattams was hosted by freshman
quarterback Brandon Hance, who would be throwing him the ball if Chattams
comes to Purdue.
"I love him," Chattams said. "He is a great guy."
Apparently Purdue is still serious about landing
the 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect. Chattams said Purdue quarterbacks
coach Greg Olson and receivers coach Kevin Sumlin visited him Monday.
Chattams said he is weighing his options between
the tradition of Ohio State and the basketball on grass attitude of
Purdue.
"I really like Purdue's passing game," said Chattams.
"The plays I ran in high school were mostly the same plays that they
ran at Purdue, such as bubble screens and quick slants."
Jim Place, Chattam's high school football coach,
said he doesn't know a thing about any decision yet, but he knows that
Chattams is quick.
"He has great instincts," Place said. "He cuts
on a dime."
According to MaxEmfinger.com's Blue Chip Recruiting,
Chattams is ranked the 12th best wide receiver in the nation.
The first day for high school players to sign national
letters of intent is Feb. 7.
Recruits that have reportedly already verbally
committed to Purdue include linebacker Brent Hawkins of Jerseyville,
Ill.; running back Brandon Jones of Peru, Ind.; quarterback Kyle Orton
of Altoona, Iowa; tight end Josh Tomsheck of Strongsville, Ohio; linebacker
Jason Leimberger of West Chester, Ohio; and offensive lineman Matt Turner
of Kirtland, Ohio.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
The Purdue football team will open its 2001 season
at Cincinnati one day later than originally scheduled.
The Boilermakers and Bearcats will play Sept. 2
at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. EST,
and the game will be televised by ESPN.
Conference USA, in which Cincinnati is a member,
has a new contract with ESPN to televise games. Therefore, the switch
was made to accommodate Cincinnati and ESPN.
No other game times or television plans have been
announced for the Big Ten tri-champions.
After the Cincinnati game, the Boilers have a bye
week before they host Notre Dame on Sept. 15. The following week Purdue
hosts Akron for Parents' Day. September will culminate with a trip to
Minnesota for a Sept. 29 game.
The Boilers host Iowa Oct. 6, travel to Michigan
Oct. 13 and return for Homecoming against Northwestern Oct. 27.
The Boilers host Illinois Nov. 3, travel to Ohio
State Nov. 10 and host Michigan State Nov. 17.
The Boilers will attempt to capture the Old Oaken
Bucket for the fifth consecutive year when they travel to Indiana for
their regular season finale Nov. 24.
Speaking of football …
Season tickets go on sale March 15. May 1 is the
early deadline for renewal for staff and general public. The early deadline
for students to buy season tickets is May 15.
In December, the Purdue Board of Trustees voted
to raise ticket prices.
Student season tickets are $72 — $12 more
than last year. Season tickets for Purdue staff members are $154 —
$10 more than before. Season tickets for the general public are $192
— $12 more than before.
Single game tickets go on sale June 1.
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