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"Any time you can get out there and play, that helps you, whether it's a hundred plays a season or 50 plays a season," Hazell said late in the season. "Any time you can get out there and get that experience of being out on the field against good opponents, I think it helps you." After playing 42 snaps against Nebraska in his college debut, Monteroso went on to finish the season with, unofficially, 91 total for the season on offense. The 6-3 receiver was one of the Boilermakers' best at his position in preseason practice before his immediate path to the field was derailed by injury. By the time it was decided he wouldn't redshirt, Purdue was trying any and all options to benefit a moribund offense, but his role being prominently featured was shortlived. Nevertheless, the player himself believes it was worth it, even after coming out of his freshman season without a single reception to show for it. "I got a lot out of it with playing and getting that firsthand experience," Monteroso said. "There were a couple weeks where I struggled a little bit, getting back into practice and keeping your confidence and making sure you never slack off and just doing what you've got to do. "For everyone it kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth, how the season ended, but it's a little bit of a mo- Tom Campbell Dan Monteroso had very little productivity in 2013, after an injury slowed down the start of his season. But he thinks the experience will pay off. f tivator." Monteroso impressed in preseason practice with his combination of height and athleticism, among other things, to the point where he appeared poised to play a significant role in the offense from Day 1 had he remained healthy. Now, the goal is for him to improve physically — he's aiming for about 215 pounds by the start of next season — and better refine the technique he got so few opportunities to use on game days in 2013. "I need to get a lot stronger and more violent with my hands so I can get off people," Monteroso said. "And I need to work on route running. In the offseason, I want to study some receivers and go from there." MYLES NORWOOD While his two receiver classmates played as true freshmen, the 6-foot, 180ish-pound slot-type redshirted after arriving on campus recovering from a foot injury. "I think it was about Week 2 they told me to give it a go and try it out," said Norwood, who spent most of preseason camp in a walking boot. "I've never been injured before so learning how to recover your body was a big learning curve. But around Week 2, I was pretty good." From that point on, Norwood ran with the scout team, often making plays, but also sometimes showing inconsistency catching the football. Norwood did do enough, though, to merit mention from Hazell during the season as one of the redshirting players standing out on the practice field, even though he was making a transition that challenged him. "It was definitely hard not being able to outrun people like you did in high school," Norwood said. "I was probably the fastest guy on the field in high school, but in college everyone is about the same and you have to learn more mentally than with your athleticism." Norwood played in a number of different capacities in high school but was recruited for wide receiver and looks like he'll stick at the position, spending his redshirt season alternating between the slot and outside positions with the scout team. "I was just trying to come out daily to give guys like Ricardo (Allen) the best test I could," Norwood said, "and just going hard, because you never know when your time will be and just getting ready for next year." IllustrateD volume 24, issue 3 35