Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/445277
GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 16 • 22 able to "maul people" regardless of the defense being in an even or odd front. "He's very ath- letic and he's very smart with a great work ethic and maybe the best thing about him is he's only 17 years old and there's no telling how big and strong and fast the young man's going to be once they get a hold of him (at Purdue) and he ma - tures (physically)," Finley said. "He was a 14-year-old sopho- more for me who could bench close to 330 pounds and squat close to (500) and it's just going to be unbelievable what he's going to turn into when he matures and goes through that 19- or 20-year-old growth spurt. He's going to be a very big man. "He's already big, and one of his great strengths is his ability to move for as big as he is. He played basketball for a lot of years and he's really good out there, too, flexible in his hips." Finley said Mendez will need to work on pass protection because he didn't do it much in high school. The offense was a run-first ap - proach with some play-action off that. "He'll need some work there, need to be coached up on that," Finley said. "He's one of those kids, though, that you tell him what to do and he'll work his tail off to get it done." Mendez is the fifth Purdue 2015 recruit to come mid-year, joining fellow high school prospects Elijah Sin - delar, Markell Jones and Ben Makowski and junior college recruit Anthony Mahoungou. FOOTBALL RECRUITING NOTEBOOK R Purdue will host high school tight end Jess Trussell, Ohio offensive lineman Larry Wells and committed cor- nerback David Rose, among others in all likelihood, for official visits next weekend. Trussell, a former UCF commitment, claims a Purdue offer. Wells, a former Ken- tucky commitment, does not yet have an offer but the 6-8, 305-pound tackle suspects the Boilermaker coaching staff might offer during the visit. Rose committed in December immedi- ately after being offered by Purdue. He'd pre- viously been committed to Toledo. R Texas tight end Donta Thompson, one of Purdue's original targets at the posi- tion, said he will officially visit the weekend of Jan. 23. Texas Tech remains an option for him, as do others. R Brycen Hopkins, Purdue's lone tight end commitment currently, has been offered a scholarship by Florida. The Nashville native said he is unsure whether he will visit Gainesville as it would be viewed as a "decommit from Purdue" if he did. Purdue needs at least two tight ends in the 2015 class, or at least that's been its goal. It lost a commitment from mid-year junior college trans - fer Cole Hikutini in December when he bolted for Louisville. BASKETBALL RECRUIT TRACKER S Ryan Cline: Playing through a deep thigh bruise, the Carmel shooting guard scored 20 points with five re- bounds and five assists in a 56- 39 win over Center Grove. S Grant Weatherford: Play- ing through a torn ligament in his ankle, the Hamilton Heights guard scored 19 points with nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 67-66 loss to Wayne County (Ky.). S C.J. Walker: The 2016 Purdue commitment scored 36 points with six assists and four steals in Indianapolis Tech's 98-86 loss at Lawrence North. A game earlier, Walker had 25, with six rebounds, four assists and five steals in a 72- 70 win over Anderson. j Bob Smith Purdue junior commit C.J. Walker scored 36 against Lawrence North. From Our Family to Yours... We Love the Boilermakers! WindowWorld.com Four Indiana Locations Lafayette Indianapolis Terre Haute Muncie Columbus New store 523 s. earl Ave.