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32 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 f is acceptable for Big Ten football." Signee Kirk Barron, a 6-3, 300-pound center pros- pect from Mishawaka, Ind., will participate in the spring after being a mid-year enrollee at Purdue. And guard Martesse Patterson, a 6-5, 320-pounder from Co- lumbus, Ohio, is expected in West Lafayette in early summer. Purdue likes the size of its four signees. "What we really talked about was 'How big can we get?'" offensive coordinator John Shoop said. "We wanted some big guys. Each one of these guys is cut really well and when we say that, we mean they have big butts with a lot of anchorability. They're hard to push around. When you see them out on the field the first time, you'll see what we mean." It'll be hard to miss Clements. The man is the size of a mountain, tipping the scales, he said recently, at about 380, but he's been bigger. When Clements ar- rived at Mesa in 2011 — he had redshirted a season at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas — he was at 500. But Clements dropped about 100 pounds prior to last season, when he played right tackle in the Thunder- birds' hurry-up offense. "He dieted and worked really hard," Mesa offensive line coach Shawn Gloden said. "Of course, out here (in Arizona), it might be a little easier, you can sweat most of it off. But he's worked real hard to get his weight down, and he knew coming in that that's what he had to do." Clements says he'd like to be at 350 when he plays for the Boilermakers next season, feeling it would give him the best combination of athleticism and size. But it's know-how that he thinks might be his greatest strength. After spending three years in junior college, includ- ing the last two playing at Mesa, Clements says he's a much smarter player. And that's understandable. A former basketball player, Clements only took up foot- ball his junior year in high school in Birmingham, Ala. "I feel like I improved mentally, in understanding the game," he said. "I was already athletic enough to do it, it was just knowing the right angles, the patience. You just don't dominate a person all of the time, as much as you try to do, it's hard to. "When I'm out there I know what I'm doing, instead of just doing anything because I'm comfortable. I was young playing the game and I was young as a person period. I matured with the game as I grew and got old- er." Purdue likes the sound of that, having a mature player on the offensive line. Clements will get every opportunity to mold into a starter in the fall. "That's the goal," Bridge said. "He has a lot of tools, he really does, and is an athletic guy for the size that he is when you watch him move. We have the advan- tage of having seen him in person and work out in person and he moves like a guy, no pun intended, half his size. That's the goal. Now, obviously, how well does he learn? How well does he improve? That's for every player, but that's the goal (for him), to have him play right away." Barron wants the same opportunity, although Pur- due's need is far less on the interior. He'll be able to learn behind third-year starter Kugler this spring. "For me, it's just to be more smart about the game, so learn about the offense a little bit more and just be so down pat with the verbiage that it's like a second language to me," he said. "Obviously getting a lot big- ger and stronger, that's always a benefit. I guess that would be probably another thing for me to do." Although Barron's position appears set for the near future, Bridge wouldn't rule out he, Yacoobi or Patter- son from playing as a rookie. It's a difficulty, but not one that's without precedent. In more recent years, Dennis Kelly, Ken Plue and Jor- dan Grimes have played in their first seasons as Boil- ermakers. Perhaps one of the rookies can be the next. "I think the simple answer is that we wouldn't have offered them a scholarship if we didn't think they could help," Bridge said. "And I'm sure the game is going to be a little fast for them, the pace of learning is going to be moving fast for them. When they get into a spot where they can functionally handle what we're doing, they'll be good; they're talented players. "Obviously Kirk has the advantage, being here for spring ball. He's going to have 15 days under his belt, but the other two guys are smart players and football is important to them. I think that it's all a matter of when they get it; when they're able to help the team is when they are going to play. That goes for everybody." j