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40 IllustrateD volume 25, issue 1 f SOME TOP TARGETS There are a number of high-priority targets left un- committed for Purdue, though the pool of those being sought after shrinks with every player that commits and every positional need that is filled. Here are just some of those that will continue to be pursued aggressively. Evyn Cooper: The 6-2 projected safety from Bu- ford, Ga., visited Purdue for its elite camp in June and now counts the Boilermakers among those recruiting him hardest. Georgia Tech and Louisville stand out for him, as well, out of the many programs that have offered scholarships. Jeff Christian: The cornerback from Cincinnati left an unofficial visit to Purdue this summer ready to commit, but backtracked a few hours later and held off. If it is Purdue's intent to add more corners to its class following Warren's commitment, the Boilermak- ers should be a front-runner for Christian, for whom Kentucky and Minnesota could also become factors. Kezio Snelling: The speedy wide receiver from Tampa is one of Purdue's top targets at his posi- tion and a very realistic one. He also has an offer from Rutgers and some smaller schools. Purdue wants to get Snelling in for an official visit as soon as it can, he said, but nothing is scheduled yet. Brycen Hopkins: Purdue was the Nash- ville tight end's first scholarship offer and re- mains his lone major-conference offer. But, Hopkins — the son of former Illinois star and NFL offensive lineman Brad Hopkins — has played just one season of high school football. A strong second season at the Ensworth School outside Nashville could bring with it significant additional attention for the 6-5, 240-pounder. Andrew Wood: The offensive guard from the Nashville area visited in June for Purdue's elite camp and was impressed with its aeronau- tical engineering program. Academics have given the Boilermakers a chance for a player who's also considering offers from Vanderbilt, Duke, Virginia, Syracuse and numerous others. Scott Huntsman: Purdue looks like the big- gest offer to this point for the 6-4, 220-pound tight end from Coppell, Texas, though Arkansas is among those also recruiting him, maybe for linebacker. Purdue had Huntsman on campus in July for an un- official visit. Donta Thompson: The 6-6, 210-pounder from Ennis, Texas, is more a big wide receiver than he is a tight end, but Purdue wants him for the latter role. Colorado and Illinois join the Boilermakers as the three schools he seems most focused on heading into the fall. Austrian Robinson: The New York defensive lineman is a big and physical, but athletic, presence, whether it's as a college defensive tackle or a jumbo de- fensive end. He's slated for a September official visit to Purdue, with Syracuse, Temple, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Boston College among those who've also offered him. Maryland and Penn State are interested, too. j www.MeetYouAtArnis.com LAFAYETTE • INDIANAPOLIS • GREENWOOD Visit one of our 18 Indiana locations Meet You At Arni's TM Celebrates Purdue's Student-Athletes SERVING BOILER FANS FOR 50 YEARS World Famous Pizza, Salads, Sandwiches Robert Kugler Junior, Double Major in Political Science and History Kugler, a center, was one of 47 players on the Boilermaker football team to make coach Darrell Hazell's "A-Players" list for the spring. Players can qualify for the list, which was originated from Hazell's decree of "A Players Must Get A's" by getting a 3.0 average or better for the semester. The Boilermakers had 40 players make the list in the fall. The team posted a 2.78 GPA for the spring, up from a 2.65 in the fall, and improved its cumula- tive GPA to 2.77, up from 2.75 prior to the spring semester. It is the highest team GPA for football in at least 20 years.