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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 20 • 7 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com W hen Purdue announced its signing class of 2015 Wednesday, a fifth of it was already on campus. Five enrolled mid-year, getting a jump on their Purdue careers by getting to campus a semester be- fore their peers. And a majority of the five might have impacts early in their Boilermaker careers: Antho- ny Mahoungou, a French import who played only a season at a J.C. before signing, likely figures into Purdue's receiving corps, where the Boilermakers are hoping to get bigger and more physical; Markell Jones might have an early edge as a contributor at running back, where Purdue has few experienced options; and Ben Makowski is the likely starting long-snapper. The two remaining early en - rollees — quarterback Elijah Sin- delar and offensive lineman Mike Mendez — might have to wait lon- ger for their times to arrive. Following, Gold and Black takes a look at the top storylines for the mid-year quintet. MAHOUNGOU READY FOR CHALLENGE For Anthony Mahoungou, American football started when he was 14 years old, when his brother convinced him to try to throw and catch an oblong ball rather than kick a round one. "I was playing soccer and one day my big brother came to me and said, 'Hey, I'm going to play American football,' " said Mahoun- gou, a native of Paris who played last season at West Hills C.C. in California. "… In my hometown, we have the best team in Europe and I didn't even know, because it's not that (well known), but I went to all the practices, the games, and I nev- er stopped. I did the national team, the world teams, played against the national U.S. team, the World Cup in Texas. I just fell in love with the game." But even success with the Paris Flash and the French National team couldn't get Mahoungou a ticket to play for a Division I program in the United States. Instead, he had to sign on with the junior college. But after he started playing for West Hills, where he finished his season with 41 catches for 801 yards and nine touchdowns, others became interested. And Purdue might have found him just at the right time. Offen - sive coordinator John Shoop says he took a late-night look at film of Mahoungou in the fall and was im- mediately intrigued by his size and ability. "It's one of those Wednesday nights where it's like 'C'mon, man, I've got to get home. But we turn on this guy, with Mike Waugh … and Sam (Orton) and they say 'We're not going to tell you any- thing about him, just watch the film,' " Shoop said, referring to Pur- due's director of player personnel and recruiting associate, respec- tively. "And all the sudden I'm kind of falling for him, he's long, he's tall, he's leaping, he's catching balls, F O O T B A L L Early Enrollees Looking For Early Impact Fifth of class already on campus Tom Campbell Purdue's five mid-year enrollees — Markell Jones, Ben Makowski, Anthony Mahoungou, Mike Mendez and Elijah Sindelar (left to right)— spoke during the signing day media session Wednesday.