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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 21 f "We have to have that big-play capability when the ball's in our hands, whether we take a five- yard hitch and take it 80 or a 10-yard curl and take it 80. We have to have some big-play capability." As a senior, Phillips scored seven touchdowns on his 37 catches. He committed early to Purdue over an offer from Iowa State. BRANDON ROBERTS Cornerback Brandon Roberts fits the bill for what Purdue's look- ing for in its secondary. Or, at least he believes he does. The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback recruit — he also drew some recruiting attention for safety — said the culture at Lown- des High School in Valdo- sta, Ga., has made him a competitive, aggressive player. "Our environment at our school is just that everyone is really physical," Roberts said. "It's really compet- itive here and it's really hot, so there's adversity and you just have to push through it." Roberts committed in December, turning down offers from Washington State, Boise State, Cin- cinnati and some smaller schools. Georgia Tech re- mained involved until the end, and Boise State kept recruiting him until the signing date. Purdue, though, won him over after first being drawn to his versatility and aggressiveness, both as a tackler and against the pass. "I'm pretty physical, be- ing 6-foot, 180," he said. "I think I can match up with big receivers and I have matched up with some pretty good receivers and shut people down. "They know I'm a shut- down corner and they think I can come in and make a difference." Roberts intercepted five passes as a senior and recorded 65 tack- les, stacking up well, he said, against some of the high-end big receiv- ers Lowndes faced the past two seasons. "(Purdue) said they want defensive backs who can come in and be phys- ical and be leaders," Rob- erts said, "and they think I can do all of that." Hudson said he's known of Roberts for a long time, likely from his days at Florida State, for which Lowndes was a frequent recruiting stop for the Seminoles. Three of the school's grads are on the FSU roster currently. "He's got balance, body control and ball skills and he's physical," Hudson said of Roberts. For more on Roberts and Purdue's DB commit- ments, see Pages 24-25. GELEN ROBINSON Linebacker Maybe the class' sig- nature signee, Lake Central High School de- fensive star and Purdue legacy Gelen Robinson was the one player Pur- due really zeroed in on in the summer. It was elated then when the linebacker recruit signed on, following in the footsteps of his icon- ic father, former Purdue basketball star and na- tional Player-of-the-Year Glenn Robinson. Gelen Robinson's story as a recruit is an inter- esting one. The four-star Ri- vals.com recruit was sought-after by numer- ous schools — and gen- erally considered a fit — as a defensive end or edge-rusher sort of play- er. Needing to become Roberts CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7 And, I am ready to prove it. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company • Bloomington, IL P097276.1 I've got service yes I do... Trent B Johnson, Agent 249 E State Street West Lafayette, IN 47906 Bus: 765-743-9595 Toll Free: 888-825-6467 trentismyagent.com