GBI Magazine

Gold and Black Illustrated, Sept-Oct 2013

Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.

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Breaking out Tom Campbell B.J. Knauf solidified himself as one of Purdue's top four receivers during the two-week training camp, showing good speed and moves, as well as toughness and physicality. red the final four days of camp. But he's expected to be back for the opener. Other players who missed all or portions of camp: freshmen Dezwan Polk-Campbell, Da'Wan Hunte, Myles Norwood and Ra'Zahn Howard, redshirt freshmen Bilal Marshall and J.J. Prince and senior Ruben Ibarra. Making a move Of the handful of position switches in camp or just before it, Marshall's move from quarterback may have been the least surprising decision but also the most surprising ascent. In the first days of camp, Marshall was working among the top group of receivers, using his long, athletic 6-4 frame to snatch tough-to-get balls and generally impress. But a hip flexor sprain on Day 3 slowed Marshall's rise — and progress. Though Marshall's shed the red pinnie, by the start of the second week in camp, he still wasn't back fully. He didn't return to participating in team work until Day 13. 18 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 1 First-year coach Darrell Hazell opened all his team's camp practices to media. Here are some of our top performers after watching all 18 practices. Redshirt freshman receiver B.J. Knauf: After missing last season with a stress fracture in his back, Knauf gave coaches a glimpse of his ability in the spring and immediately worked with the No. 1 offense in August. He kept that role after a strong camp, showcasing not only his 4.4-type speed but also reliable hands and an ability to make catches and hold on despite contact. Senior cornerback Ricardo Allen: Allen may be harder on himself than anyone on the team, and it was clear he came into camp with some fire after having a disappointing junior season. It's hard to recall him allowing a catch in team portions of practice — and many balls simply weren't even thrown his way, largely due to tight coverage. He looks healthy and more physical, too, and that is not a good sign for opposing receivers. Junior defensive end/linebacker Jules Williams: Williams isn't a starter and likely won't break into that spot this year, but he stood out this camp as being an opportunistic defender who excelled in blitz packages at the "jack" linebacker position and with some quickness off the edge from end. Easily could have picked DB Antoine Lewis, too, as he always seems to be around the ball in coverage, getting PBUs or picks. — Stacy Clardie That likely will cost him game snaps in 2013 as coaches already were shuffling through a large group of receivers to pull out their top six. The other move of note was Raheem Mostert joining the running backs after spending his first two seasons at receiver. Mostert simply said it was a better fit for him at running back, considering he hadn't caught a pass in a game in Years 1 and 2 and had three rushing touchdowns in that span. So he asked Hazell to make the switch. "I was just ready to go, I guess," Mostert said. "The f

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