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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 9 f the class' headliner-type names. "We all experienced it daily first-hand, trying to bring a program together. We're all now going to be surrounded by others who can do that, so the load isn't all on ourselves. … As a col- lective unit, all the leadership involved, everyone will push each other with their work ethic. That's what all the leadership and captain accolades bring." Purdue's class was a moving target from Day 1. Six players who committed at one time or another wound up signing elsewhere. The Boilermakers nabbed four who were committed to other schools. But when all was said and done, Purdue believed it addressed what needed to be addressed, though it would have liked another potential immediate-contrib- utor type on the offensive line. (Junior college lineman Miguel Machado's wob- bly commitment to the Boilermakers fell in Michigan State's favor a few hours after Purdue announced its class.) Purdue wanted toughness, especially on defense, where the Boilermakers have struggled so badly, espe- cially against the run, in recent years. Early, Purdue wanted linebacker Gelen Robinson very badly; later, it wanted fellow linebacker Ja'Whaun Bent- ley very badly. It got both, adding a dose, Purdue hopes, of physical- ity and toughness to a unit that needs both wholesale. Both players could have gone to any number of schools. Robinson, a Boilermaker legacy, held numer- ous BCS conference offers at the time of his early com- mitment. Bentley held all sorts of Big Ten and ACC offers as well at the time of his December commitment, then re- buffed overtures from a few other high-profile suitors in the weeks before the signing date. Both players, along with all their fellow signees, took a leap of faith on a Boilermaker program enduring a transitional period. "I believe something special is about to happen at Purdue with Coach Hazell, Coach (Marcus) Freeman, the linebackers coach, and the whole coaching staff," said Bentley, who's from Maryland. "If I work hard, I think I can be a household name there. I definitely see Purdue being on the rise in coming years." Robinson, whose father, Glenn Robinson, is a Purdue basketball icon, might have been the No. 1 player on Ha- zell and staff's wish list when the 2014 recruiting cycle unlocking more tomorrows our mission is discovery our goal is to cure cancer. cancerresearch.purdue.edu Dorothy Teegarden, PhD Professor, Foods and Nutrition COMING AND GOING A look at how the commitment/decommitment game affected Purdue this recruiting season. GAINeD Player Pos. Prior commitment Kirk Barron OL Ohio Tim Cason CB Western Michigan Cedric Dale CB BYU Bearooz Yacoobi OL Northern Illinois LOst Player Pos. New commitment Simmie Cobbs ATH/S Indiana Chris Jones CB Nebraska Miguel Machado OT Michigan State Drue Tranquill LB/S Notre Dame Denzel Ward OL Syracuse LaDarius Wiley DB Vanderbilt