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58 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3 f So Barron redshirted, but not until he took "varsity" reps in practice early in the season. For a freshman, Barron has experience on his side, both in those substantive snaps he's taken in practice, but also from enrolling early and having gone through last spring's practic- es. Whereas Patterson is gigantic and Yacoo- bi long and lean, Barron is somewhere in the middle. He's a sawed-off 6-1, but a barrel-chested 300-plus pounds. "He has a lot of natural strength and size," Bridge said. "What he lacks in height, he makes up for in quickness. He's got a body, that he will play a lot of football if he keeps progressing. He knows what we are doing, not as much as we would like him to know but that's part of the learning at center. It matters to him, he's strong and he bends. He will help us." DEFENSIVE LINE Purdue could use some help on its defensive line, with Keiwan Jones and Will Colmery coming out of redshirt this spring in hopes of providing some. Jones projects as an interior lineman for the Boiler- makers, most likely its nose tackle position. "He's going to be like trying to stop a moving Volkswa- gen," defensive coordinator Greg Hudson said. "He's go- ing to be low and powerful and he understands football." The 6-2 Jones was a little more than 280 pounds when he arrived at Purdue, but should soon be in the vicinity of 300, if he's not already. "First thing, he had to get into better shape in order to compete at this level," defensive line coach Rubin Carter said. "Once he arrived he started to get more bulk and size, which initially I wanted for him, so he gained about 10-12 pounds but maintained his mobility. He's a very mobile guy; he has great footwork and great instinct. He's very functional in what he does and he is good at getting through gaps. I really like his upside and his ability to play in between tackles. "I like his intangibles. I think he wants to be a good player and wants to be successful. I believe he's willing to work toward it and understands it's not going to be given to him and that he needs to compete. He's got some men- tal confidence to him and he's pretty consistent in what he does against the run and the pass. I think he can be a two-dimensional player." In Colmery, 6-5 and probably now pushing 275 pounds, Purdue sees versatility, among other things. The freshman's size, length and "flexibility," coaches say, have made him an option for virtually any role on the defensive line. Where his long-term position lies remains to be seen. "But one thing I do like about him is his flexibility from a muscular standpoint," Carter said. "He can flip his hips well and get around the edge. He's kind of crafty and can get through gaps into the backfield. He has good instincts in regard to seeing blockers and looking at the next move. He utilizes those abilities well." Colmery could be on his way to being a 290- or 300-pounder. "I think he just needs to continue to get stronger," Car- ter said. "I think both of those guys really understand that they need to get into the weight room, because they are going to be going against Big Ten linemen that have all the Brian Neubert Purdue likes Keiwan Jones' attitude. His size, whether he can get up 300 pounds, will determine where he plays on the defensive line.