f o o t b a l l :
d e p t h
c h a r t
Defensive End
1. Greg Latta 91
6-5, 260, Sr.
12 tackles, 1 TFL,
1 sack*
Latta was a bit of a
surprise as a starter
on Day 1 of spring,
getting the nod over
the more-experienced Phillips. But
his athleticism and potential make
him an intriguing prospect. A foot
sprain late in spring — he should be
out until late-May — sidelined him.
In another surprise, it was walk-on
Williams who got a bulk of the firstteam snaps in Latta's place.
2. Jules Williams 48
DEfense
Defensive Tackle
1. Ryan Watson 92
6-2, 306, So.
2 tackles*
With Taylor out due
to an ankle injury
— he decided to
have surgery early
in spring — Watson
got the first-team reps. It's possible
that he'll hold the job in the fall. But
Taylor, despite being shorter than
ideal, has experience, being in and
out of the starting lineup the last couple seasons.
2. Brandon Taylor 55
6-1, 307, Sr. (5)
6-3, 245, Jr.
Defensive Tackle
1. Bruce Gaston
Jr. 90
Defensive End
1. Ryan Russell 99
6-2, 310, Sr.
26 tackles, 5.5 TFL,
2 FR, 2 FF*
Gaston wasn't
expected back for
the spring, but he
pushed himself to return from thumb
surgery in time to take part in the last
week-and-a-half. And he couldn't have
looked any better. Despite playing with
the hand wrapped, he seemed more
disruptive than ever on the interior of
the line. Gaston's good, but how good?
That answer might come this fall.
6-5, 270, Jr.
30 tackles, 7.5 TFL,
3 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FR*
Russell has played
well the last couple
seasons but hasn't
been the pass-rushing specialist Purdue has wanted, or
needed, him to be. Is this the year?
He'll need to avoid the ankle injuries
that have kept him from being fullspeed off the edges, but seems to still
have the potential. Phillips had a quiet
spring, yet the spring game he looked
like he could be an impact player.
2. Michael Rouse 97
2. Jalani Phillips 89
6-4, 305, So.
6-4, 256, Jr.
Weakside Linebacker
1. Will Lucas 45
Middle Linebacker
1. Joe Gilliam 39
Strongside Linebacker
1. Sean Robinson 10
2. Andy James Garcia 2
2. Jimmy Herman 29
2. Armstead Williams 31
5-11, 236, Sr.
66 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 FF*
Lucas is back into the starting
lineup after losing his job midway through last season, but it's
not set in stone. Garcia, after
redshirting last year, is making a
strong push, it would seem. He got some first-team
snaps late in the spring. Whomever makes the fewest mistakes, something Lucas has been prone to,
might end up getting the most snaps.
6-1, 225, Jr.
53 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU,
1 FF*
Gilliam remains the starter, holding the job over from last season
when he started all 13 games. But
it was hard not to notice Herman
during the spring, with him making tackles from
sideline-to-sideline during the "jersey" scrimmage
and game. He's too light right now, but if the summer brings 10 pounds, he could challenge.
6-0, 218, R-Fr.
Cornerback
1. Ricardo Allen 21
5-9, 186, Sr.
44 tackles, 4 TFL,
1 sack, 1 INT
3 PBU, 1 FF*
Allen wants to
rebound from what
was, for him, a
mediocre 2012. He had the interception return for TD vs. Marshall, but
otherwise his tackles and PBUs were
way down. He could be primed for a
big year, assuming he rids himself of
the ankle issue that cost him late in
the spring. Harris was a big mover,
after starting the spring on the third
unit.
2. Normondo Harris 1
6-4, 220, R-Fr.
Free Safety
1. Taylor Richards 4
5-10, 192, Jr.
47 tackles, 0.5 TFL,
0.5 sacks, 6 PBU,
1 punt blk.*
A shoulder injury
kept Richards out
the last week of the
spring, but there's little reason to
think that'll be long-lasting. He had a
solid season in 2012, plenty to build
off of as he hits his final two years.
Johnson has battled injury over the
years but should be a solid backup.
2. E.J. Johnson 7
6-1, 185, Jr.
6-3, 240, Jr.
27 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 3 PBU*
Robinson is likely Purdue's best
linebacker, with his smarts helping ease his transition from quarterback. That move is now nearly
complete, with the junior playing
more instinctively than ever before. He needs to
work on his speed and plans to this summer. When
Purdue went with four linebackers this spring, it
was Williams who came on the field.
6-3, 230, So.
Strong Safety
1. Landon Feichter
44
Cornerback
1. Frankie
Williams 24
2. Anthony Brown 9
2. Antoine Lewis 26
6-0, 188, Jr.
76 tackles, 2 TFL,
4 INTs, 3 PBU*
Feichter's broken
right hand, which
required surgery,
sidelined him after the first week
of spring but that gave Brown, an
athletic prospect, a chance to fill in.
Last year, Brown split time between
safety and corner but has settled in
at the former. It's probably the best
place for him.
5-11, 192, So.
5-9, 186, So.
45 tackles, 1 TFL,
2 INTs, 9 PBU*
Williams wasn't a
starter last season,
but he almost played
as much as one, considering how
frequently Purdue was in the nickel,
bringing him on to the field. Provided
he's cleaned up some of the mistakes
he had been making — don't bite on
the pump fakes — then he could be a
solid piece to the defense.
5-10, 185, Jr.
6-0, 180, Sr.
Key * 2012 Season Statistics
RED: Missed spring game due to injury
— Kyle Charters
Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5com
