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got me was something they can't even control, the players themselves and the way we connected when we were there. It was a whole bunch of guys I felt like I became very close to just through the course of a weekend. It was crazy. We all want to win and you could just feel that energy when you were hanging out with them." Purdue has told recruits it wants to sign five defensive backs. With Tim Cason and Simmie Cobbs already in the fold prior to this weekend, that left three spots and five uncommitted DBs visiting. Roberts took his spot Tuesday, giving Purdue its third commitment in a span of four days. He chose the Boilermakers over offers from Washington State, Cincinnati and Georgia Southern and continued interest from Georgia Tech. "I look at it as a better chance of playing," he said, referring to Purdue's struggles in 2013 and what it might mean from an opportunity perspective. "If I come in and play well and fit in on the defense, I feel like I can make an impact. I feel like I can be a bigtime player." Rivals.com Brandon Roberts gave Purdue its third defensive back commitment. MORE FROM THE WEEKEND R Junior college tight end Isaac Ijalana, who was committed to Oklahoma for a while, earned a Purdue scholarship offer while on campus. He will decide this weekend and enroll in January. Illinois and Utah State, as well as the Sooners, seem to remain in play for the New Jersey native. High school tight end Cole Herdman of Virginia visited but was not offered. R DB visitors LaDarius Wiley and Juan Jenkins each left watching their signees and targets alike. Head coach Matt Painter saw 2016 big man Barrett Benson, 2015 guards Glynn Watson and Jordan Ash and 2016 guard Kyle Guy this week. Assistant coach Greg Gary saw signee Vince Edwards and 2015 guard Jalen Brunson and is scheduled to see 2016 forward Tyler Cook and 2015 forward Nate Fowler the next two nights. Associate head coach Jack Owens saw Fort Wayne sophomore big man Caleb Swanigan this week, likely among others. R Football official visits pick back up in January, with some of the possibilities for visits being junior college offensive tackles A.J. Allen, Miguel Machado and Dominic Granado; high school tight end and Kentucky commitment Darryl Long; Illinois linebacker/fullback and Western Michigan commitment Robert Spillane; and newly open former Florida offensive line commitment Benjamin Knox. R Boilermaker offensive line target Marcus Applefield, a midyear enrollment candidate, will NOTEBOOK announce Friday between RutOn the basketball front, Pur- gers, Maryland, Purdue and othdue's coaches have been busy ers. He visited Purdue during the attending high school games, season. Purdue calling the Boilermakers their No. 1 choice, Wiley going so far as to say he thought he might commit Monday, which he did not. Purdue also hosted DB prospects Chris Jones and Avonte Maddox, who are committed to South Florida and Pittsburgh, respectively. R Long-time defensive end target Renell Wren of Missouri left campus deciding between Purdue and Arizona State — the Sun Devils, he said, the leader — but then postponed his initially planned Wednesday announcement between the two schools. R Four previously committed players — defensive back Cason, punter Austin McGehee, wide receiver Gregory Phillips and defensive end Will Colmery — made their official visits last weekend. R Junior college running back De'Chavon Hayes visited also. One of the top J.C. backs available nationally, the Lackawanna (Pa.) C.C. star is also considering Arizona State and Oklahoma, among others. R Cason is eligible to enroll mid-year, but Purdue has limited space for such recruits, a total determined by the number of seniors who'll graduate in December. Right now, Purdue has QB David Blough and offensive lineman Kirk Barron all set to enroll in January, but must wait out decisions from Ijalana and Applefield, maybe others, before knowing whether there will be room for Cason. COMMITMENT RESULTS R Wide receiver commitment Trae Hart helped his First Baptist Academy team in Dallas to a state title, finishing off a 14-0 season with a 35-21 win over Bryan Brazos Christian the Division III classification of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Hart caught six passes for 27 yards, but more importantly, returned a fumble for a 79-yard touchdown in the second quarter. R McGehee plays for a state championship in Arkansas this weekend, a game that was postponed due to the weather, allowing the punter to make his official visit to Purdue last weekend. j GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 14 • 7