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Wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman Many of Kevin Sherman's former and current players describe him as a detail-oriented, hands-on coach who is laid back but will be firm when he has to be. Sherman says that's right on. "One of the things I've learned throughout the coaching profession is there's a time to have a good time and have some fun with the guys but there's a time to go to work," Sherman said. "You try to take care of the details and the little things, try to get the guys to master their craft. If they can do the little things to help them get better and develop as a football player, big things will come out there in the stadium." Sherman, 44, has had success with that approach at different stops in his coaching career. And there have been many: Virginia Tech for seven seasons, Wake Forest for five, Ohio for four and VMI for four, Methodist College for two. In his first season at Purdue, Sherman has inherited a largely inexperienced group. Of the 13 players on the roster, 10 are underclassmen, and Gary Bush is the only one with full-time starting experience. Over four seasons at Virginia Tech, Sherman helped develop Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale into the school's all-time leading receivers. Sherman has that opportunity to coach up his current unit into consistently solid performers, and he's impressed players with what he's done so far. "I think he's an excellent coach," junior Raheem Mostert said. "He depicts everything we do, technique-wise, running routes. He's been in the game for a long time, and he just knows. You can't argue with him." — Stacy Clardie GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Tom Campbell Raheem Mostert has been one of the nation's best return men for two seasons, but now, as a junior, he needs to prove his worth on offense. Mostert has yet to catch a ball in his career, but he says he feels more comfortable and is ready to make an impact in John Shoop's new offense. get a feel for the game, and if you're rotating every series you don't necessarily get that feel for the game," Shoop said. "We don't talk in terms of carries, we talk in terms of touches, but we'd like one guy to get the bulk of the touches in a game and kind of get a feel for it and how our linemen are fitting the blocks. I really believe this — if you can do that, three yards in the first quarter becomes four in the second, five in the third and by the fourth, if you're feeling it and you have some endurance and durability, it's going to become seven, eight, seven, eight, 40. "Having said that, you can't just have one (back). You've got to spell a guy every once and awhile when he's tired. But I think we would prefer to not be a committee doing it." Based on experience and potential, Akeem Hunt will assume Purdue's workhorse back role. In his first two seasons, he averaged 8.3 yards per carry and 9.3 per touch, factoring in receiving yards. Though some wonder about Hunt's durability because of his size, Henry has no doubts. "He's strong enough and he has the heart and the will and he hits the hole hard," Henry said when asked why Hunt will sustain as a No. 1 back. "There are a lot of bigger backs all over the country. Most backs are bigger than Akeem. But bigger backs don't hit the hole as hard as Akeem does and don't play with the amount of heart that he does. Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 • 21