Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/470008
GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 4 20 The 6-foot, 190-pound Fuller hit his peak as a high school running back this season, running for 1,004 yards and 10 touchdowns for Lanier. "I feel like every back has a thing, like they're either a downhill back or a scat back or whatever," Fuller said. "But I feel like I can do multiple things. I think I can be a downhill running back. I don't really get that shifty, but I will if I have to. Sometimes that just comes to me, like I don't even know how I do it sometimes." Duke and Vanderbilt recruited Fuller long after he committed to the Boilermakers in the summer over double-digit smaller-school offers. SHAYNE HENLEY Midway through the season, the junior college defensive end put together a h a l f - s e a s o n highlight pack- age and distrib- uted it to col- lege coaches. Within about 36 hours, he not only heard from Purdue, but was offered by Purdue. And from that point on, the 6-3, 250-pounder from Moorpark College in California's recruitment was an open-and-shut case for the Boiler- makers. "They were very passionate about (their need), that they want me to make an immediate impact," said Henley, who went JUCO after high school credits got lost in his trans- fer from one high school to another. "Since I am a junior college transfer, I'm a little older, a little more experi- enced and I'm ready to step in there and hopefully start or at least make an immediate impact." One of Purdue's clear-cut priori- ties this year was for a junior college defensive end, an infusion of experi- ence at a position where the Boiler- makers lost both starters, Ryan Rus- sell and Jalani Phillips. They came up with Henley, who stands as the only defensive end in the signing class, JUCO or otherwise. Henley recorded five sacks as a ju- nior college sophomore. "I think it was explosion off the ball, my speed, my hands and foot- work they liked," Henley said. "They like my motor, that I'd always run to the ball no matter what, until the play is over, 100 percent until the whistle stops. They like that I'm relentless. "They said they like how I can con- trol the run as well as the pass, do a little bit of both. I think that's what they saw in me." Henley will start off at defensive end at Purdue. "I'm gaining weight constantly," he said. "I'm already 260 right now and I don't think they expected that. You never know where I'm going to play." BRYCEN HOPKINS The son of for- mer NFL stand- out offensive lineman Brad Hopkins, Bry- cen Hopkins didn't have a whole lot of in- terest in play- CERAMIC • ENGINEERED HARDWOOD LAMINATES • MARBLE CARPETING Specializing in • Homes • Businesses • Churches • Schools Where Contractors Buy Their Flooring Builders! Call our Contract Department and ask for our Contract Specialist 3437 South Street 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office GO BOILERS