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ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3 71 f the class prior, filling existing gaps in a roster com- ing out of the season. Last year, Purdue's roster only accommodated three mid-year signings, to the point the Boilermak- er staff had to turn away a signee, Tim Cason, who'd positioned himself to graduate high school early. Ca- son enrolled in the summer instead. This year, though, there's much more wiggle room, and judging by its actions, Purdue plans to use every bit of it, and thus could conceivably sign a full class in February that could hit 30 players, may- be even more, though Hazell has said it is likely to be in the 25 to 27 range. A look at the first wave of incoming Boilermaker recruits: Elijah Sindelar: Maybe the gem of Purdue's class since the quarterback committed to the Boilermakers last winter, Sindelar moved up his high school graduating un- doubtedly in large part seeing an opportunity to factor into what projects to be an open competition at QB this spring. Now, the value shifts. Less than 24 hours after Sindelar called Darrell Hazell to make official his plans to enroll in January — he originally intended to not graduate early so that he could see his high school baseball career through to the end — he blew out his knee in what turned out to be his final school game. Sindelar tore his ACL and underwent surgery in India- napolis Dec. 15, obviously a setback that will limit, at best, his participation in spring football and hinder his chance to compete at quarterback right away. It does, however, only amplify the value of his early enroll- ment, considering he'll now have access to high-level college medical and rehabilitation resources. Sindelar, who chose Purdue long ago over in-state Ken- tucky and others, broke Kentucky's career passing touch- downs record this season and is considered a front-runner — perhaps the front-runner — for the state's Mr. Football honor. "He has 'it,'" Hazell said after Sindelar and the other three mid-years had signed with Purdue. "It's everything. It's charisma. It's his ability to slow games down. I watched him play basketball last year, tremendous athlete, great ele- vation, great ball skills, movement. He's tough. He can throw it, and he's very poised. It's just a laundry list of all the things. For him to be able to throw for as many yards and as many touchdowns as he's thrown for and only play for, like, maybe two-thirds of the complete games is unheard of." Markell Jones: Indiana's newly crowned Mr. Foot- ball probably smells blood. When he committed to Purdue in the summer, he knew the Boilermakers would be losing their top two running backs, Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert. When Jones gets to Purdue in the spring, he'll step into an open depth chart, buoyed by confidence gained, not that he needed any more, during a historically dominant senior season at Columbus East High School. Jones ran for more yards this season than any other runner in state history and nearly set a touchdown record as well. "Markell obviously is an in-state guy who I think is a phe- nomenal player," Hazell said. "I think what makes him really good — and just talking to his coach about it, too — his run- ning style reminds me of Emmitt (Smith). He's not a blazer. He's not a big guy. But he has a way to wiggle his hips. He's very powerful, very strong lower body. I think he'll be one of those guys who challenges right away. Being able to get him in the spring, especially losing those other two guys, is big for us." Sophomore Keyante Green is Purdue's lone returning running back who's played an offensive snap for the Boiler- makers, giving Jones a clear opportunity to crack the depth chart a month before the other running backs Purdue will sign in February have even gotten to campus. "That was always a big reason why I chose Purdue and the reason I chose to come early," Jones said, "because I recognized they were losing some running backs and there would be a spot there that would need to be filled. "I know they have Keyante Green, D.J. Knox and one oth- Design: Ashley McCaffrey/Photo: Charles Jischke Markell Jones was one of four players to sign on Dec. 17 in order to enroll early and participate in spring practice.