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f r e s h m e n c l a s s r e v i e w READY OR NOT … Purdue went with youngsters during this season's struggles BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com W as Purdue's 2013 freshman class an "impact" class? Depends on your definition. If you'd consider playing time to be "impact," then yes, this group made a profound one, as it put nine rookies on the field as true freshmen and accounted for the team's starting quarterback for most of the season; its top receiver; and the entirety of its second-team defensive line from midseason on. But if you consider "impact" to mean the group's role in its team's success, then you must look no further than the Boilermakers' 1-11 record. That said, the number of freshmen who played in 2013, and thus will presumably be better off Tom Campbell for the experience from this point on, is a central Leroy Clark will be one of only four returning scholarship cornerbacks theme in Purdue's enthusiasm for the future. Here, Gold and Black takes a look back on each next season, and one of just three who had playing experience in 2013. He might be in line to start. member of Purdue's last signing class, many of medical redshirt to join classmate Justin Sinz, giving Purwhich committed to Darrell Hazell after he was due a nice, experienced combination of tight ends. hired, the rest inherited from the prior staff. "Early in his career because of his body I think (Burke) is going to be more of a pass catcher," Parker said, when MATT BURKE The tight end's freshman season was a wash, not be- asked to characterize Burke as a tight end. "And as his cause of his performance but because of the ACL injury body develops, we hope to turn him into both. "But he has to get healthy and he has to get in the suffered mid-fall that ended it. "It's unfortunate," tight ends coach Gerad Parker said. weight room." "Before that, we thought Matt was a typical freshman comKEITH BYARS II ing in, a little light and needing to put on some weight. He A last-second addition to Purdue's signing class last is very intelligent when it comes to learning the offense and being a guy who's dependable in the classroom. But February, Byars was a player the Boilermaker coaches he still physically needs to make up some ground, and the wanted to find room for in an otherwise already running back-heavy class. ACL injury has set his body back even more." Though older and probably more physically developed The 6-foot-6 tight end will not only have to get his knee healthy, but also add significant size and strength to his than his classmates at his position, the former prep school rangy frame. He needs to do that before he can come close recruit didn't really factor into the mix for early playing to factoring into a tight end corps that could be a short- time. "It's hard to say because you go through camp and you term strength, with senior Gabe Holmes returning off a f IllustrateD volume 24, issue 3 29