Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/156057
f o o t b a l l f e a t u r e : O f f e n s i v e l i n e Transition Game Four former D-linemen playing big roles on offense BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com T revor Foy doesn't hear the cheers much anymore. It's not that he isn't making plays; he's just doing so in a far less glamorous manner, having spent years now playing on the offensive line rather than defensive end. He's not the only one. The fifth-year senior is one of three projected starters, along with another backup, on the offensive line now who came to Purdue in the 2009 recruiting class as defensive linemen. Offensive tackles Kevin Pamphile and Justin Kitchens are in that group, as is backup center and interior lineman Cody Davis. For each, the journey from defense to offense has been met with hurdles. Even Foy, who was first to make the move only days into his first training camp at Purdue in '09, has encountered his share of obstacles. "To be completely honest, (the worst is) just accepting the fact that you're never going to hear your name called out again," said Foy, who has battled injuries over the years, before being healthy now and settling in as the projected No. 1 right guard. "Defensive end is probably one of the more recognizable spots — you get a lot of action — so accepting the fact that you're not going to hear your name called out anymore on the big speaker, is, well, it is what it is. But you learn to like it." Certainly, the Boilermakers are happy the foursome has adapted to the offensive line, considering those Tom Campbell Former defensive tackles Justin Kitchens (left) and Kevin Pamphile have each faced obstacles in their transitions to offensive linemen. But now, as fifth-year seniors, the two are expected to be strengths at the edges of the line. players will be at the forefront of Darrell Hazell's efforts to establish a more physical front. The building of the line started years ago, when Danny Hope was transitioning to being Purdue's head coach and wanting to beef up his offensive line. Hope, a former offensive line coach at Purdue who helped develThe Particulars op several future NFL players, thought he could reA list of the former defensive linemen signed as part of the cruit what he called "line prospects," i.e. players who 2009 recruiting class currently playing offensive line for were athletic enough to play defense in high school Purdue. but could be taught offense at Purdue. O-line Games Not only were Pamphile, Kitchens, Foy and Davis Player Move Played (Started) in the 2009 class but so was Eric McDaniel, now a Cody Davis Spring, 2010 16 (0) fifth-year senior who started his career as a defenTrevor Foy* Training camp, 2009 30 (17) sive tackle at Purdue, then moved to offensive guard Justin Kitchens* Spring, 2011 18 (13) before going back to D-tackle late last season. And Kevin Pamphile* Game 9, 2011 17 (9) Xavier Melton, too, came in as a defensive tackle and * Projected 2013 starters 25 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 1 f