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64 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f F O O T B A L L : D E P T H C H A R T DEFENSE End 1. Ryan Russell 99 6-5, 275, Sr. 35 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks* Potential remains for Russell — ESPN's Mel Kiper lists him as the country's fifth-best senior defensive end — but questions also remain. Will Russell's performance in the spring, when he was improved, carry over? Will he consistently perform at a high intensi- ty? Purdue thinks he can still get where many thought he'd be. Panfil's a big-bodied under- classman who seems to have a lot of upside after playing the second half of last year. 2. Evan Panfil 95 6-4, 240, So. Nose Tackle 1. Ra'Zahn Howard 14 6-3, 315, So. 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 PBU* Howard looks the part: He's big, understands leverage and disrupts the interior of the offensive line. He's got to be in better condition — he doesn't always look the best in the middle of the week — but appears to be improving. He desires to be great, and that's helping to get him headed in the right direction. Depth is a concern. Rouse was good in spring, but it was against the second- and third-unit offensive line. Ryan Watson is an option as nose, too. 2. Michael Rouse III 97 6-4, 305, Jr. Tackle 1. Jake Replogle 54 6-4, 240, So. 13 tackles, 1 TFL* Replogle moved inside to the 3 technique, mainly because he grew into a tackle. And he continues to grow. Although they're underclassmen, defensive coordinator Greg Hudson thinks the duo of Replogle and Howard can provide a stiff wall on the line of scrimmage. Watson's been coming on in the offseason too, getting bigger and stronger, and is versatile enough to play here or at nose. 2. Ryan Watson 92 6-2, 306, Jr. Jack 1. Jalani Phillips 89 6-4, 260, Sr. 9 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBU* Phillips' athleticism gives him an opportu- nity to be good at the Jack, where he could line up at end or standing up as a line- backer. But his production through the first three years of his career has been lower-than-expected. Purdue wanted him to loosen up a bit in the spring, and he did, playing more free; it's thought that will help him become a playmaker. Miles got an opportunity to earn a start- ing job in the spring, and could get more chances, provided he matures this fall. 2. Antoine Miles 11 6-3, 250, R-Fr. Strongside Linebacker 1. Jimmy Herman 29 6-4, 220, So. 13 tackles* Now that he's at Sam, Herman's game has opened up, as the outside linebacker position emphasizes his strengths: athleticism, quickness and speed. Playing him inside at middle, where he was a sea- son ago, didn't play well to those attri- butes. He might be the surprise player of the fall, if he's able to continue the development he started in the spring. Link will play too, after being awarded a scholarship early in spring practices. 2. Collin Link 40 6-2, 210, Sr. Middle Linebacker 1. Sean Robinson 10 6-3, 240, Sr. (5) 45 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PBU* Robinson's played every position in the linebacker corps, but has finally now settled at middle. Why? He's better inside the box, where his physicality can outweigh his (lack of top-end) speed. And Robinson can make up for the latter by being smart, understanding angles and being aggressive. He's eager for a breakout season. Hudson is closer to being a contributor, particularly because he's blown up physically in the last year. 2. Garrett Hudson 16 6-3, 230, R-Fr. Weakside Linebacker 1. Joe Gilliam 39 6-1, 225, Sr. (5) 31 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 FR* First, Gilliam had to reclaim a starting job — Danny Ezechukwu was No. 1 early in spring — and now has to work to keep it. Gilliam, formerly a middle linebacker, will need to hold off challenges from Robinson and Bentley, two rookies who appear physically ready to play. Youth, and knowledge of the defense, might keep them from starting early, but they'll get chances to play. 2. Gelen Robinson 13 6-2, 230, Fr. — OR — Ja'Whaun Bentley 56 6-2, 245, Fr. Cornerback 1. Anthony Brown 9 5-11, 192, Jr. 69 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 FF* Brown exited the spring as the No. 1 cornerback opposite Frankie Williams, but this position is far from determined. Lewis missed parts of the spring because of class conflicts, but he's shown over the years to be a playmaker. But there are other contenders here too: Leroy Clark started a game as a freshman last season — he could play — as could an incoming freshmen like Tim Cason or Cedric Dale. 2. Antoine Lewis 23 5-10, 185, Sr. (5) Strong Safety 1. Taylor Richards 4 5-10, 192, Sr. 64 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 FR* Richards has been a consistent player for the Boilermakers through his first two years as a starter, but has shown only flashes of more. (The Notre Dame game last season, for instance.) Those instanc- es need to come in greater numbers as a senior. Logan was a bit banged up in the spring, so he didn't show whether he's ready to take a step for- ward in his second year. 2. Austin Logan 5 6-0, 190, So. Free Safety 1. Landon Feichter 44 6-0, 189, Sr. (5) 24 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 int., 1 PBU* Feichter's 2013 sea- son was plagued by injury, first to both of his hands, then to his leg, which kept him out most of the year. But he was back for the spring and looked healthy. He's fearless, but might want to occasionally take the foot off the gas, if only to prevent injury. Gregory only recently moved to safety, doing so in spring, but he fits the part. He's big, physical and willing to hit. 2. Robert Gregory 7 6-2, 211, So. Cornerback 1. Frankie Williams 24 5-9, 185, Jr. 61 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 int., 3 PBU* Williams steps into a larger role, now with Ricardo Allen having moved on to the NFL. That's not just on the field, but in the locker room too, where Williams has turned into a leader, organizing activities that have developed the secondary into a close- knit group. Williams is an aggressive, confident player who has to clean up some mistakes last season. 2. Leroy Clark 3 5-10, 175, So. Key * 2013 Season Statistics GREEN: Change from spring projection — Kyle Charters