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makers and now stands poised to take on a more prominent role as he and his classmates move up the ranks. It's likely, though, the Ohioan will look much different in the long term than he did as a freshman. "It's always technique and fundamentals (that are important for young players)," Carter said. "But I like the type of player he's going to be for us and that he's going to be huge. He hasn't even scratched the surface on how big he's going to be." Replogle opened his rookie season around 240 pounds. "I think I can get pretty big," Replogle said. "In high school, I played linebacker up until senior year, then had a growth spurt. I was 6-1 my junior year, then 6-4 my senior year. I put on a lot of weight, almost 40 pounds, Tom Campbell and I think I can continue to put on more weight as I Jake Replogle is known as a guy with a high motor, which along grow into my body." Replogle, along with Panfil, could be in line to get with added weight and strength, could make him a force in the Big Ten as his career progresses. first crack at a starting position come spring. sive lineman." JOHN STRAUSER As Purdue's defensive alignments were a sort of moving target in-season, Strauser's projection may have gone from a traditional defensive end's role to more of a standup capacity. Through the course of the season, Strauser played Purdue's hybrid "jack" position — akin to a 3-4 linebacker/ edge rusher — after starting off as a traditional down lineman. "He has excellent speed and good vertical get-off," Carter said of Strauser, who won the postseason award as the team's best defensive scout team player. "He gets around the edge as good as any of the other freshmen with the ability to use his hands. He's a very promising player for us and plays with good natural leverage. He's able to get underneath people, anchor and hold the point. He can be that jack with his ability and the things he's capable of doing." The immediate need, though, is size and power, for the 6-2 Strauser, who got a jump start in the weight room after enrolling last January. Carter said Strauser added 15-some pounds during the season, but must continue to progress in order to bring his physical prowess in line with his effort. "He has a high motor and he is always constantly moving," Carter said. "He loves to run and chases the football and those are the kind of attributes you want from a defen- f JOHNNY THOMPSON While Purdue's perspectives on what it might want at linebacker from here on out may have shifted some, it'll look to find a niche for Thompson, who's not as big as Ezechukwu or rangy as Polk-Campbell, but more of something between the two. "He's another athletic guy, more than I thought of him coming in," Freeman said of the 6-3 Thompson, who came in at around 205 pounds. "He's a smart guy and knows his position and (positions) around him. He works extremely hard and that's something that will help him become successful." JASON TRETTER Purdue's only offensive line signee in its 2013 signing class, Tretter signed on as a projected tackle, but caught some of his coaches' attention after moving inside to guard during the season. "I thought I'd be playing offensive tackle," Tretter said, "but as Coach (Jim) Bridge says, 'You're going to be playing O-line and we'll see where you fit in.' If I'm playing guard, then I'm fine with it, and I'll work as hard as I can this offseason and compete for a spot wherever they need me." The 6-6, 300-plus-pound lineman believes coaches felt IllustrateD volume 24, issue 3 37