Boilers recruit nine defensive
players
By Seth Schwartz
Senior
Writer
With a focus on depth at linebacker, the Boilermakers
recruited nine defensive players out of high school.
Coach Joe Tiller is enthusiastic about this year's
recruiting class, which includes six linebackers and three players from
Texas, defensively.
"I would say that the most significant difference
today is when we contact someone to indicate that we have an interest
in them, we're not hearing the words 'No thank you' like we were four
years ago," Tiller said.
The best defensive recruit is linebacker Brent
Grover, who scored a 1430 on his SAT. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Kentucky
native is ranked as the No. 7 linebacker in the nation by SuperPrep
and No. 23 by Rivals.com.
According to Tiller, Purdue was able to get Grover
for two reasons — proximity to home and academics.
Defensive coordinator Brock Spack said, "Grover
is one of those big time players. He's a real big linebacker that can
hit you and rush the passer."
From Millville, N.J., defensive end Ryan Davis
is 6-4, 245 pounds. Tiller was impressed with the mere sight of Davis.
"I really like Ryan Davis. He makes me salivate.
You look at him and he looks like a prototype pro defensive end."
Spack said Davis is a very athletic player.
"He's a player that already has good size, real
tall, the kind of guy we're looking for on our defense," he said.
Tiller said the player that would be considered
the tough guy of the defense is LaDrelle Bryant.
"I think LaDrelle (Bryant) is the type of guy that
would just as soon smack you as look at you," he said.
According to Spack, Bryant was a great find for
the Boilers.
"He's a guy that I think is kind of a diamond in
the rough. I think he'll be a surprise. He's a real good player, he
has a real good upside to him."
By far the most difficult name to pronounce from
this class is that of Bobby Iwuchukwu from Arlington, Texas. At 6-2,
220 pounds, he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds.
"Iwuchukwu is a very interesting guy," Tiller said.
"He only played two years of football. He plays like a safety. He's
one of those slobber-knocker guys. He really hits you and turns you
around."
Spack said Iwuchukwu is the type of player that
could play in many different positions.
"He's a very good athlete," he said. "Could be
a safety, but will probably be a linebacker. He's real athletic and
fast and tough and a good student. He's a guy that will probably change
his position when he gets here."
The rest of the linebackers, all of whom could
make an impact, are Brent Hawkins from Jerseyville, Ill.; Jason Leimberger
from West Chester, Ohio; and Brandon Villareal from Allen, Texas. The
lone defensive tackle is 6-0, 280-pound Antwan Harris from Raytown,
Mo.
According to Spack, speedy cornerback Brian Hickman,
from Houston, Texas, has the greatest chance of the defensive recruits
to get a lot of playing time because he plays one of the skill positions.
Hickman, 6-0, 170 pounds, runs the 40 in 4.40.
"He's supposed to be real fast," said Spack. "He
should be a real good player. I like his personality. On his visit here
he was real bright. He's got a good motor and he's a real hard worker."
Spack likes all of the players in the recruiting
class.
"We've got some good players," he said. "It's hard
to say until they get here who's going to be the impact guys, but we
got some big linebackers who are real physical guys."
|
