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24 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f LOOKING FOR A LEFT TACKLE S enior Jack DeBoef did not do enough in the spring to earn Purdue's starting left tackle job for the fall, Coach Darrell Hazell said. So who could emerge at the spot for the sea- son opener on Aug. 30? Hazell, offensive coordinator John Shoop and offensive line coach Jim Bridge know, but they're not saying. There's an option to move someone current- ly playing inside to tackle, but no coach would identify who could make that switch. There's a chance an incoming freshman could win out early, specifically Bearooz Yacoo- bi, whose long arms, athletic and intelligence impressed coaches in the recruiting process. And there's still a chance DeBoef, who hasn't played in a game in his career at Purdue but got the majority of first-team reps in the spring, will get an- other shot to show he's made strides during the offseason. "We'll let you know in camp who earned the starting spot at that left tackle spot. We'll have to see," Hazell said. "Obviously, we had some issues at the left tackle spot this spring. "It'll work itself out." Whoever gets the job to start the fall may not keep it long, though. Not with junior college transfer David Hedelin wait- ing in the wings. Hedelin will serve an NCAA suspension for the first three games after playing for a "professional" team — he didn't get paid — in his native Sweden after high school. But once he's eligible in Game 4, he could move into the spot and not leave until the end of 2015. "Dave is very big, athletic. He's very coordinated and light on his feet and is nasty. So he brings that to the table," Shoop said, laughing. That's only one of the rave reviews from Purdue's coaches about the 6-foot-5, 295-pounder. Bridge loves Hedelin's "hunger" and his "supreme desire to want to learn what we're doing." Hazell, who won't commit to Hedelin being the Week 4 starter, appreciates what he called Hedelin's nasty streak and likes that Hedelin is older (23) and has some college game experience. Hedelin, for one, really isn't sure what to expect. Less than one week after arriving on campus, Hedelin had yet to investigate his competition at left tackle, he said, so he wasn't sure what he was up against. "We'll see after the fall camp how it looks, but my goal is to start the fourth game, since I only have two years left," he said. Hedelin considers his strengths foot- work, athleticism, quickness and aggres- siveness. The latter may be what Purdue needs more than anything. The Boilermakers' run game struggled to generate much production in 2013 — it had only six touch- downs, two by backs — and Hedelin could be some- one to help boost those numbers. Though he played tight end for his first year in junior college, he was back where he belonged as a sophomore. "Tackle has always been my position. I wouldn't even change tackle to a running back, to be honest. That's how much I like it," he said. "I could catch, but they never threw me the ball, unfortunately. So all I did was go in motion, pulling. Run blocking is my thing. That's what I do. I love it. "I'm aggressive. That's what it's all about, almost. You've got to be tough and aggressive." — Stacy Clardie David Hedelin