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40 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f is experienced, with two senior safeties in Taylor Richards and Landon Feichter and junior corner Frankie Williams, but it lost All-Big Ten cornerback Ricardo Allen to the NFL. And the defensive line is two-thirds young but full of potential with soph- omores Ra'Zahn Howard and Jake Replogle, and has senior Ryan Russell, who is back for one last chance to make something of his career. Unproven might be a good word for the group. Robinson has another. "I think a good word for us would be 'account- able,' " he said. "That's accountable to one an- other, to our coaches and to ourselves. If we can go through camp and the season and after every practice or every step on the field and look at ourselves and ask 'Did I give 110 percent effort, give ev- erything in the film room and give coaches good effort? Was I ac- countable to my teammates?' "If that answer is yes, then we're not going to have an issue this year." Purdue's now fully transformed to primarily a three-man front, with a swing player — the Jack can line up on the end of the line or standing with the other LBs — to give the defense more versatil- ity. Tom Campbell Jalani Phillips should get the first crack at the Jack linebacker spot, but he'll be watched closely. It's a critical position in Greg Hudson's defense. INSIDE VIEW MUST STEP UP A year after having only 14 sacks, tied for 115th in the country, the Boilermakers need to generate a better, at least more consistent, pass rush. And like the last couple years, the primary candidate to do so is Ryan Russell. But can he? The senior has not yet capitalized on his perceived potential, and last year had only two sacks, including one vs. FCS opponent Indiana State. Coach Darrell Hazell says Russell will have a match-up advantage in two-thirds of his games this season; but to translate that into production, Russell will have to increase his intensity. Cornerback Frankie Williams moves into a more significant role, and linebacker Sean Robinson needs to both produce (more than his 45 tackles in '13) and lead. BREAKOUT PLAYERS After getting in for the second half of last season, Ra'Zahn Howard showed he had the ability to be an impact player in the middle of the defensive line. Now, he'll have a chance to do so more regularly as the projected starting nose tackle. Still only a sophomore, Howard has a physical maturity that belies his class status. But mental makeup is a bit of a question; his conditioning's not been the best over the last year, but he's making strides to focus better in the days leading into games. Safety Robert Gregory is unlikely to be a starter, considering Purdue has veteran options at the position, but the former quarterback/running back showed during the spring that he can hit. If he can figure out what he's doing at his new position, opponents should watch out. IMPACT NEWCOMERS Purdue needs linebackers in the worst way, a message that's been on repeat for the last decade or so. Two incoming freshmen — Gelen Robinson and Ja'Whaun Bentley — fit the mold of what the Boilermakers have been searching for, in that they are big, physical linebackers. At least one will get a chance to contribute early, perhaps even start. And who knows? If they can prove they can play, by understand- ing what Greg Hudson wants in his scheme and by executing, they could both find homes on the field early. — Kyle Charters DEFENSIVE LINE Senior 99 Ryan Russell* 6-5 275 DE Juniors 60 Chuck Ayers 6-4 270 DT 97 Michael Rouse III 6-4 315 DT 92 Ryan Watson 6-2 300 Nose Sophomores 14 Ra'Zahn Howard* 6-4 315 Nose 95 Evan Panfil 6-5 240 DE 54 Jake Replogle* 6-4 265 DT 98 Will Schott 6-4 215 DE Redshirt Freshmen 52 Johnny Daniels 6-5 275 DT 51 John Strauser 6-3 265 DE Freshmen 90 Will Colmery 6-5 250 DE 50 Keiwan Jones 6-2 265 DT * Projected starters