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ers back there, we all have a lot of experience and we able depth. should be able to keep the defense going very smoothThe safety group probably doesn't have the same ly." luxury, although Feichter and Richards are a quality, But it starts with Allen. Last season, although he had albeit smallish, starting pair. an interception return for touchdown, it was his only Feichter, a 6-foot, 189-pound junior who only went pick. And his tackle total — 45 — was about half from on scholarship last spring, has proven to have a nose a year earlier. for the football, picking up 14 more tackles last season But Allen's a worker, undoubtedly, and provided he than any other Boiler. His four interceptions were tied can avoid the recent ankle injuries, he should be able atop the Big Ten leaderboard. to get back to form. Richards, a 5-10, 190-pound junior, started every "I like that he is spunky," Hudson said. "You know game last season and feels that experience has made he has a little bit of an edge to him." him significantly better now. Williams made five starts last season, two while fill"It helped a lot, from confidence to assignments," he ing in for Allen and the rest when Purdue opened in said. "(Last year), I learned so much about myself, the a nickel package, and was solid statistically with 45 way I could play and the system. I'm now glad I've got tackles, two picks and nine pass breakups. There were that year underneath me." errors common of a first-year player, however, such as Sophomore defensive back Anthony Brown has some biting too often on pump-fakes — in combination with experience, too, although only he played only sparingsafeties coming late with help — and those had him ly. He performed as a sixth DB last year and could fill giving up too many big plays. in now as either a safety or cornerback. He filled in as "He's been thinking about that all offseason," Allen a first-team safety late in the spring with the two vetsaid. "He talks about it all the time. He knows he got erans sidelined. beat last year. He knows he gave up a couple touch"He has a good sense of football," Richards said. downs. He has a short memory and the next play, he's "He's still a little immature, from a mental point of ready to play, but he keeps it on the top of his mind view toward the game, but that only comes with exand he works hard every day. He wants to be one of perience. He was just like me my freshman year, (he) the best. I think him being a redshirt freshman last didn't redshirt but got some snaps here and there. So year and giving up some of those plays, I think it will there's still that experience that he needs, but I feel help him in the long run because he knows what can like you can put him on the field and he'll be well-prehappen if you don't prepare as hard pared." THE SECONDARY as you should." Junior E.J. Johnson, who has batSeniors But if Williams falters, Purdue 21 Ricardo Allen* 5-9 186 CB tled injury during his career, could seemingly has other options. No. 1 Normondo Harris 6-0 180 CB see action on defense but might be Juniors 1 might be Harris, who battled in- 44 Landon Feichter* 6-0 189 S more likely for a special teams role. 7 E.J. Johnson 6-1 185 S jury last season and played in only 38 Landau Lang Injuries could press him or others 5-11 190 CB five games. But he's been a quality 26 Antoine Lewis 5-10 193 CB into more prominent roles, but Hudplayer in the past, including a soph- 4 Taylor Richards* 5-10 192 S son would like to see that top four Sophomores omore season in which he started 9 Anthony Brown 5-11 185 S/CB get — then stay — healthy. 20 Chae Douglas 5-9 186 CB four games. "I think that first group, if they are 22 Jacob Kent 5-9 179 CB This spring, Harris started prac- 24 Frankie Williams* 5-9 186 CB out there together, all four of them, Freshmen tices with the third team but was a RedshirtEvan Feichter and I don't screw it up, I think it's a 27 6-0 176 S quick riser, thanks largely to his will- 49 Ashkan Mizani 6-0 200 S good enough group that they've got Freshmen ingness to play physical on the out- — Leroy Clark the right attitude to work together 5-10 175 S/CB side. He and junior Antoine Lewis, — Da'Wan Hunte 5-10 180 CB that they can be pretty solid," Hud— Tyvel Jemison 5-11 175 CB who had a couple picks last season — Austin Logan son said. j 6-0 190 S in limited action, give Purdue valu- * Projected starter 44 • Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com