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22 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 f more stout between the tackles, though, Purdue projected the power- ful 6-2, 230-pound state champion wrestler and track and field thrower as the sort of presence it felt it needed in the middle of its defensive front seven. Robinson is an explo- sive, powerful presence rushing off the edge, having done so for Lake Central as both a stand- up defensive end and out- side linebacker. Between the tackles, his power and wres- tling-sharpened man-to- man tackling skills will be put to use. "I'm definitely a pretty physical player and as a person, I'd say I'm a pret- ty physical person," Rob- inson said. "I think that style of play fits me pretty well." He could too make for a very interesting situa- tional option at fullback. Early in the recruiting process, Purdue did float the idea to Robinson, who played some offense in high school and would be all for it in college. "Hopefully," Robinson said. For more on Robinson, read Pages 20-21. BEAROOZ YACOOBI Offensive Tackle It might not be all that reasonable to expect the Boilermakers' lone high school offensive tackle signee to contribute im- mediately — few rookie offensive linemen do — but Purdue's coaching staff clearly is convinced 6-5, 280-pound Bearooz Yacoobi can make an im- pact in West Lafayette, whether it be sooner or later. The Dearborn (Mich.) High School product him- self is confident, as well. "With all the help Pur- due's going to give me and all the knowledge I'm going to receive, I think I can be a dominant play- er," Yacoobi said. "I'm going to gain a lot of strength and size and just go at it." Purdue came after Yacoobi beginning in De- cember and flipped him about a month later af- ter he'd been committed to Northern Illinois for several months. Purdue's offensive line coach said the program was sold on the rangy tackle as soon as it viewed his film. "He's got great length," Bridge said. "When you look at how long his arms are, that's really some- thing you stress when you try to find guys who play that tackle position. He's long. He bends. He has quick-twitch fibers and I believe he can real- ly block the edge well and he sets himself up well to be an outstanding edge pass-blocker in the future for us." Yacoobi was offered by numerous MAC schools before committing to NIU. Wake Forest also pursued him around the same time Purdue got involved. "They liked my foot- work a lot and my size and they think I'm capable of being a great player with my speed and oth- er attri- butes," he said. It is rare for true f r e s h m a n o f f e n s i v e lineman to play right away and in a per- fect world for Purdue, Y a c o o b i will red- shirt. But it does bear men- tioning that he's coming into the most up-in-the- air position on the team, it would appear. The Boilermakers do not have a single returning tackle who played notable snaps last season, possibly creating opportunities for incoming recruits Clements and Yacoobi from Day 1. For more on Yacoobi and Purdue's O-line, see Pages 22-23. j Robinson Yacoobi Wes Wolfe Purdue offensive line coach Jim Bridge says Bearooz Yacoobi could be an outstanding edge blocker for the Boilermakers in the future.