IllustrateD volume 25, issue 1 13
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Boilermakers shifted their approach.
By shifting a player.
Sophomore Cameron Cermin came to Purdue as a tack-
le and spent all of last season working there in practice
before being moved inside in the spring. Hazell declared
guard a better fit for Cermin then, and Cermin entered
camp as a backup at left guard. But, desperate to find an
answer on the edge, Cermin was moved back outside on
the fourth day of camp.
By the end of the two weeks, he was the unquestioned
starter at left tackle.
"He has a good eye for things happening around him
and how it impacts him and he has a willingness to com-
pete," offensive line coach Jim Bridge said. "Those are
strong characteristics of any guy who's trying to earn
playing time."
A hip flexor kept Cermin out for the final couple days of
camp, including the Aug. 16 scrimmage, allowing Hedelin
to take all of the reps with the first-team offense over that
span. Hedelin likely is the ultimate answer at left tackle,
but he's not eligible to play until Week 4.
Until then, Cermin said he'll keep working to improve
and adjust back to playing his old position.
"There's a pretty big difference," Cermin said. "There's
a lot more speed rushes at tackle. The footwork is differ-
ent, too. At guard, you have to be a little stronger, thicker
and (face) more bull rushes.
"It doesn't really matter to me
where I play. I just want to be in the
top five."
Packing a Punch
On the first day of camp, freshmen
linebackers Ja'Whaun Bentley and
Gelen Robinson were working with
the fourth-string defense as a middle
and weakside linebacker.
They didn't stay there.
Bentley's rise was rapid, getting
reps with the third unit by Day 2,
pushing up to the second team on Day
3 and then, on Day 6, sliding over to
the Will spot and getting snaps with
No. 1 defense.
Robinson was with the third team
on the sixth day and spent a day later
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Cameron Cermin didn't start playing left tackle during camp until Day 4. But once
he made the move from guard, he appeared to solidify the pivotal spot.
