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44 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f — Stanford Keglar in 2007 is the only Purdue LB drafted to the NFL since 2003 — but they might be getting closer. Robinson is entering his third season as a linebacker, after starting his career, and starting a game, as a quarterback. But last season, the 6-3, 240-pounder had only 45 tack- les, just a couple for loss. As the full-time middle now, that production needs to tick upward. "That's definitely the next step, start making plays," he said. "Yeah, you need to do your job and you're not going to make every play, but when an opportunity presents itself, it's time that I make it." Being in the middle likely helps. It fits Robinson's DNA, Hudson says, because it takes advantage of his physicality while diminishing his lack of top-end speed. "Sean's smart enough that we can teach him how to run down the toss sweep, the read-option outside plays," Hudson said. "The guys that you see make it at linebacker, they're not always the fastest, they just took off before the play actually happened, they know what's going on." Herman has blossomed on the outside, where his ath- leticism gives him a chance to be successful in space. Last season, he was miscast as an inside 'backer, limiting his best characteristics: quickness and reach. And he's physically closer to where he needs to be, with the 6-4 sophomore having grown past the 220 pounds he's listed on the official roster. Hudson, who coached linebackers at Florida State, is pleased with Herman's development over the last year. "I like Jimmy a lot," he said. "I joke with him, 'Jimmy, you're sort of like my cocker spaniel at home. I keep flick- ing it on the nose and finally it bit me back.' Jimmy is start- ing to bite. Jimmy's sneaky big and scary athletically. And he's smarter than all of us put together." Gilliam's hold on the weakside LB spot might be the most tenuous. The senior is Purdue's most experienced line- SECONDARY COACH TAVER JOHNSON F or the fourth con- secutive season, Purdue has a new sec- ondary coach. But the Boilermakers are hoping this one is here to stay. In only 15 spring practices, plus the last few months of offseason, Taver Johnson has already built trust with the Boiler- makers. "I love him," senior safety Taylor Richards said. "I've had four position coaches in four years, so the stuff that I've learned to take away from each coach has been dif- ferent. But I have to say that one thing that I've taken away from him is the love and excitement for the game, especially coming off a 1-11 season. "I love the game, it's all I think about, but his excite- ment takes it to another level. It's a brand new day." Johnson has an impressive coaching résumé, in- cluding a stop at Ohio State from 2007-11 where he was a fellow assistant with Purdue coach Darrell Hazell. In Johnson's five years at OSU, he helped the Buckeyes to four straight Big Ten titles and four BCS bowl games. The last two years, Johnson was at Arkansas, serving as the Razorbacks' assistant head coach and lineback- ers coach in 2012, then its defensive backs coach in '13. Purdue hired Johnson, 41, in February to replace Jon Heacock, after he left to become the defensive coordi- nator at Toledo. "Coach Johnson brings a ton of energy," junior cor- ner Frankie Williams said. "I wouldn't say I like him, I love him. I'll give all the credit to him, especially for what we're about to do this season." Johnson, a native of Cincinnati, started his coach- ing career in 1994, with stops at Notre Dame, Miami (Ohio) and with the Cleveland Browns, for which he served as special teams coordinator in 2004. — Kyle Charters Tom Campbell Taylor Richards' career has been up and down, but he's look- ing for more up as a senior.