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28 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED this school and stayed at this school. "There is no experience like game experience, to be able to take that and learn, it's definitely helped my preparation this offseason. I've made such huge strides from the end of November until now and I'm going to continue do so, leading into camp and ultimately Sept. 6. I'm absolute- ly jacked up about this season, and I couldn't be more excited about this team and this offense." But Appleby knows he needs to be better, and he's working toward that. He spent time since the season ended tightening up his mechanics, working to economize his stroke to get the ball out of his hand quicker and deliver more accurate balls with tighter spi- rals. They're areas Shoop and Hazell identified, and ones Appleby is attack- ing with "full force," he said. "I threw the ball as good as I've ever thrown it in spring ball and even taken more steps going into camp and this summer," Appleby said. "And ultimately, it's all about Game 1, and I'm hoping to be right at my peak and where I need to be come Game 1." Though Blough is considerably be- hind on reps with the No. 1 offense — and, in turn, against the No. 1 defense — he clearly made strides in the spring working with Purdue's offense, really, for the first time ex- tensively. He'd spent his freshman season working with the scout teams, running opponents' plays. After he got comfortable in the spring, his production picked up and he was able to relax, showcase his athletic ability and sling it. It im- pressed coaches and teammates, but Blough knows his top priority will be finding a balance between mak- ing good decisions and eliminating mistakes while still keeping his play- ground escapability. "I just want to be able to make the routine plays," Blough said. "If it's 80 plays a game, I want to be able to make the plays that need to be made to give us a chance to win. But also there's some stuff that I'm not going to rein back, maybe that gunslinger mentali- ty, that just comes with it a little bit. I don't even think about that — it's just instincts kind of take over when you're out there. "I just have a lot to keep working on, a lot of the foot- work, a lot of the new stuff and now that I've got all the protec- tions down, recognizing the de- fense and see how we can get ourselves in the best position to make plays quickly and effec- tively." Though Blough's list may be long in improvements — makes sense considering he's only entering his second season with the Boiler- makers — his considerable moxie and confidence overshadow any ma- jor concern. Tom Campbell Though Danny Anthrop is coming off knee surgery, few doubt the impact the senior receiver will have on the offense in 2015. "He's an animal on the field," fellow receiver DeAngelo Yancey said. When I say "good," you say "neighbor." P097313.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL Call me for your insurance needs and see how it feels to be on a #1 team. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ® CALL ME TODAY. Now that's teamwork. Trent B Johnson, Agent 249 E State Street West Lafayette, IN 47906 Bus: 765-743-9595 trentismyagent.com