Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/368605
30 IllustrateD volume 25, issue 1 f gets called a little bit more. So I think those guys have done a really good job and Coach (Jafar) Williams has done a great job with them. Also, I think we have some tight ends who have really worked hard to get into the mix. Gabe (Holmes) has come back really strong, (Justin) Sinz. Dol- apo (Macarthy) has had some production. He has a lot of catches in practice and shows up and (in the scrimmage) he had some production. I think those two positions, we're counting on an awful lot of production." Gold and Black: Why is Danny Etling your starting quarterback? Shoop: "Both (Etling and Austin Appleby) had a real- ly strong, strong training camp. It's not any one thing, but Dan's body of work from the spring and through training camp has been pretty strong. He got us in the end zone a few times in the scrimmage, had a lot of production, and that's why he's going to get the start. Austin, too, had a great training camp. The competition is great, and these guys made each other better, and we're going to count on them to continue to do that in weeks to come." Gold and Black: How do you feel about the offen- sive line coming out of camp? Shoop: "I really feel confident in our center and two guards. They're going to work really hard to hold down the A and B gaps, and it's going to be real challenge starting in Week 1. Those three guys, I'm talking about (Robert Kugler), (Jordan) Roos and (Jason) King, have a little bit of chemistry among them that's going to serve our entire team well. They're great friends and they can make some calls on the move that we sure couldn't make last year. Guys like J.J. Prince and (Cameron Cermin) and (Jack DeBoef) have really been fighting their tails off at the tackles, and those guys are going to win a lot of fight reps for us. I've got confidence in them. I think we have a real chance to be strong in those A, B gaps, we're counting on them." Gold and Black: How many receivers did you want to identify as guys who could help and did you find that group? Shoop: "You'd like to go in to the season with a two-deep, which means you've got six guys that you'd like to be able to plug in interchangeably. It's good to have B.J. back. I think B.J. and Anthrop have a chance to play at a high level at the Z position. I think (Cameron Posey) has done a fine job in the slot for us, and Danny has even been playing in there a little bit as well. DeAngelo (Yancey) is being pushed every day (by) a young guy in Greg Phillips. When there's a talented guy like that behind you, nobody gets comfortable. So I think there's some great competition at those spots. Frankly, (in the scrimmage), you talk about production, Shane Mikesky is one of those guys whose strength is maybe really he could play every position. When you're smart and can play every position and have that in the mold of a utility infielder, you make the bus and you make the game plan." Gold and Black: Why are you excited for the season opener? Shoop: "I'm sure I have been — but I can't remember — being as excited as I am. The reason — well, there are a couple — but it starts with these guys work hard. This is a hungry group of players, and I really look forward to coming to work every day to work with them and to work with our staff. We need to continue to put in the work, but up to this point, these guys have worked their tails off. We need to continue to do it, but if they do, which I suspect they will, we're going to put our best foot forward and we'll be a team that this community can be proud of. I'll tell you that." j Tom Campbell Playmaker Akeem Hunt may start the season as the Boilermakers' backup running back, but he'll likely see plenty of snaps both from the backfield and in the slot.