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 39 E vyn Cooper has no doubt. He will play for Purdue as a freshman in 2015. Even if he isn't quite sure which position that will be. The Boilermakers seem con- vinced he's a defensive back, and Cooper played two years of corner- back in high school. But he didn't in games as a senior at Buford (Ga.), his most recent stop after attending four high schools in four years. There, he starred for the state championship team as a change-of- pace running back and sometimes slot receiver, the guy who could add a ridiculous burst of speed and break free for big plays. There, he talked about how he wanted to play offense in college so he could continue to make plays in space. Purdue's coaches, though, are talking about how wowed they were watching film of him simply working on one-on-ones and drills at corner- back. "I saw him before I got to Purdue, and I fell in love with him," said sec- ondary coach Taver Johnson, who is in his second season in West Lafay- ette. "It says (he's listed at) 6-foot- 2, 190, but it seems like every other day, he is getting taller and taller. He gives us tremendous length, tre- mendous speed." And potential depth at a position that severely needs it. The Boilermakers have a potent corner combination with Antho- ny Brown and Frankie Williams as starters but not much else. Tim Cason and Brandon Roberts began at cornerback upon their arrival on campus last year but have since been converted to safety, and the other defensive back in that 2014 class, Cedric Dale, has left the pro- gram. The projected spring depth chart at corner would include only Leroy Clark and Da'Wan Hunte as scholarship backups, though Coach Darrell Hazell has said Clark could move to safety as well. It'd seem there'd be a place for Cooper, then, in 2015. If he buys in to not playing offense. Four months before he was set to report, he was at least saying the right things. "I just want to step foot on cam- pus and make a difference wherever they put me at," he said. "I'm just going to work hard to compete, and the rest will take care of itself. God blessed with me with enough ability to compete on the next level, so I just have to use it. "Wherever they want me to play, I'll just adjust to it and make plays." Boldly Believing Confident Cooper ready for next role BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com Evyn Cooper helped Buford (Ga.) to a state championship by his versatility on offense, but Purdue coaches think he's a potential-packed athlete who can compete at cornerback. Gwinnett Daily Post