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f o o t b a l l R e c r u i t i n g f e a t u r e : t h e d e f e n s i v e l i n e In Focus Defensive line a major priority for 2013 class BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com W hen Darrell Hazell took over as Purdue���s coach in early December, the Boilermakers had only three defensive linemen committed for the 2013 recruiting class. That wasn���t nearly enough. Considering Purdue���s overwhelming need to restock the position with underclassmen ��� perhaps no spot this season required more of an influx of young talent ��� the new staff went to work on identifying, then securing, three others in less than a couple weeks. On signing day, Purdue inked Jake Replogle, John Strauser and Ra���Zahn Howard, three holdovers from the Danny Hope Era, plus Johnny Daniels, Antoine Miles and Evan Panfil, who committed in a short span under Hazell���s watch. Linebacker commitment Danny Ezechekwu could also develop into a defensive end. ���There���s a reason there are weight classes in boxing and we need a lot of big guys,��� first-year defensive coordinator Greg Hudson said. ���They take a beating, and as coach mentioned, you have to have eight guys ready to play in this day and age. ���We looked at the numbers that we currently have and the numbers we need to bring in and found a good mix. But within the numbers, we got quality. We weren���t just taking five or six guys just to have five or six guys. If we had to take four great players, we would have done that. But the quality and the up-side to these guys is special. They made the recruiting easy because they wanted to be here and they have a bright future.��� Purdue needs that to be true, especially with how top-heavy its defensive line had become. Of the nine veterans returning next season, five are seniors, including projected starting defensive tackles Bruce Gaston and Brandon Tay- Introducing ... GoldandBlack.com mobile App For the Android and iPhone at the Android Market and App Store Over a few months, the Boilermakers lost commitments from three defensive linemen. First, long-standing commitment Randy Gregory, who had gone to junior college after not qualifying at Purdue in 2011, skipped out on his verbal in November and committed to Nebraska shortly thereafter. The four-star end and Indianapolis native cited angst on Internet fan message boards among his reasons, but it likely had to do as much with the Boilermakers��� on-field struggles as anything. Fellow defensive Barry Burtenshaw end Parker Cothren, Jake Replogle was an early D-line commit to Purdue and stuck by the Boilermakers an Alabama native who through the coaching change. had committed over the lor. Ryan Isaac, who started summer, decommitted toward most of last year at end but the end of the season, decidis listed as a tackle, is also ing instead on Penn State. set to graduate following the And after Hope was 2013 season. And included in fired, defensive tackle Kyle the eight is Eric McDaniel, a Shortridge, a Florida native, senior who was an offensive switched his commitment to linemen until the final couLouisville. ple weeks of the season. Replogle and Strauser, Only two returnees, sophowho had long been committed more defensive tackles Ryan to Purdue, along with HowWatson and Michael Rouse, ard, who wavered some after are underclassmen. choosing the Boilers in early ���It don���t know if you can November, stood by Purdue have enough defensive linethrough the coaching change. men,��� Hazell said. ���You���re But Hazell and Co. were in going to roll eight guys in dire need of more help on Bill Ray those tough Big Ten football Ra���Zahn Howard brings a large, physi- the defensive line. So in late games, you���re going to need January, they sought out prossome guys in the fourth cal presence to Purdue���s defensive tackle corps. pects to bring on visits to the quarter. So you���ve got to get West Lafayette campus. some good defensive players In only a nine-day period from Jan. 20-28, Purwho can make some plays up front. If you can due picked up three commitments, first getting make plays up front, the guys��� jobs in the second Miles to commit two days after touring campus, and third level are a whole lot easier.��� then Daniels jumped on board, followed by Panfil, Purdue had tried to restock the D-line earlier a Purdue legacy who had previously pledged to Ilin the recruiting process, but uncertainty in the linois. program ��� fan discord and rumors of Hope���s ���I knew Purdue was interested in me for mayimpending dismissal didn���t help ��� caused it to be a week-and-a-half before they offered me,��� said be a difficult effort. Miles, a three-star end from Canton, Ohio, who 30 ��� Gold & Black IllustrateD ��� volume 23, issue 4 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com