Potential impact LBs top Boilers’ class of 19
WEST LAFAYETTE — After Darrell Hazell’s first season as coach in 2013, Purdue’s most pressing areas of need included offensive line and linebacker, as well as defensive back.
And the Boilermakers appeared to address those positions in their 2014 recruiting class.
On Wednesday, the first day of the national signing period, they officially announced a 19-player group that included four offensive linemen, two linebackers — including Lake Central’s Gelen Robinson — who should play right away, and four defensive backs.
“We’re much more athletic, we’re tougher … and I think we’ve brought in some guys that really love the game,” said Hazell, whose team went 1-11 last season, including 0-8 in the Big Ten. “That’s one of the things we talked about at the end of the season as a football team, finding guys that have the passion to do all the little things to be great football players. And if you sit down with each one of these guys, to a man, they’re just dying to be good football players.”
Robinson could be Purdue’s highest-profile signee, its only fourstar prospect in the class, according to Rivals.com. The three-time Post-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year — and seeking his second straight undefeated 220-pound wrestling state championship — primarily played defensive end/ outside linebacker for the Indians. But Robinson — the son of former Roosevelt, Purdue and NBA star Glenn; and the brother of Michigan’s sophomore standout Glenn III — is slated to play inside linebacker for the Boilermakers.
Ja’Whaun Bentley, a product of DeMatha High in Maryland, also could make an immediate impact at inside linebacker.
“I love those two guys — I love everything about them,” Hazell said. “Sitting down and talking to them, and how passionate they are about the game. Then you flip on the film for the fourth or fifth time, and the film just keeps getting better and better and better — how they run through gaps, how they’re so physical, and how they’re so instinctive getting to the football.”
Purdue linebackers coach Marcus Freeman also had high praise for Robinson, who committed to the Boilermakers on July 8 after they had made him one of their top targets.
“He can easily make that transition (to middle linebacker),” Freeman said. “He plays in space well, opens his hips, moves well. He’s another guy that has the switch that when he steps on the football field, he’s ready to play ball. … He’s another physical guy that loves the game of football, that runs through people and plays the game you want your linebackers to play. “When we were going out looking for linebackers, we wanted two guys that were physically ready to play and love the game of football, and we found those two guys.”
Purdue’s offensive line recruits also could be in position for playing time, possibly to start given its depth, particularly 6-foot-8, 375-pounder Corey Clements, a tackle from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College. The Boilermakers also signed Martesse Patterson, an Ohioan who projects as a guard but apparently can play all five spots; Michigan tackle Bearooz Yacoobi; and Mishawaka Marian center Kirk Barron, an early enrollee.
“We looked for tough, athletic, smart, physical guys, and we feel like we added to that crew,” offensive line coach Jim Bridge said.
Along with Barron, highly regarded Elite 11 quarterback David Blough also enrolled early. Also, defensive end Langston Newton transferred from Kentucky at the semester break, and Hazell said the eligibility of the Carmel graduate for the fall would be known by the end of the week.
Purdue’s four defensive back recruits are Tim Cason, Brandon Roberts, Cedric Dale and Juan Jenkins, with the first three expected to play cornerback and the latter safety.
“We are extremely excited about this class. … This class is special for a lot of different reasons,” said Hazell, noting there are 18 captains in the group.
“Any time you’re trying to build a program, you have to have guys that can fight through a little bit of adversity, not only are physically tough, but mentally tough. These guys love the game so much, they love to compete, they want to be out on the field.”