Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/558473
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 6 33 over from high school. I didn't real- ly play too much tight end in high school and even at my last college, I was a linebacker. So the whole block- ing people and running into people, that was just carried over from play- ing linebacker. "That's why I'm comfortable doing that. Just the toughness and block- ing and maybe get some check down passes and protecting the quarter- back and all that stuff." Herdman seems to be the most athletic and best pass-catcher of the bunch, and he spent segments of the spring detached from the line in the slot. So that's certainly an option when Purdue goes uptempo. "I'm really excited about Cole," first-year tight ends coach Terry Malone said. "I think he's got ex- ceptional skills, got a great attitude about it. He's going to get stronger and bigger and build himself into a position player." Curry may not get as many snaps, but he could be the most versatile player of the group. A former fullback, he's spent time as a tight end lining up in the backfield or set off the line in an H-back-type role, but he's more than that, too. "He can catch the ball out of the backfield, can block well. He knows the playbook, knows what to do. He's strong in the weight room, athletic," Jurasevich said. OFFENSIVE LINE There may be debate on who will be the starting quarterback. There may be concern as to who will produce in the backfield. There may be curiosity with the in- experienced tight ends. There may be intrigue at which re- ceivers will end up in the top six. But there is no doubt what the strength of Purdue's offense will be in 2015. "I think we're going to have the best offensive line in the Big Ten, if not the country," Appleby said. That may seem like hyperbole, but give it some consideration. Kugler is entering his fourth sea- son as a starter, racking up 31 con- secutive starts, the last two years at center, and has cemented his status as one of the nation's top players at that position by landing on the Rim- ington Trophy watch list. King is entering his third season as a starter with 17 starts at left guard and has probably made the greatest strides of anyone up front since his arrival. David Hedelin is entering only his second season as the starting left tackle, but he's had likely the most Tom Campbell Senior left tackle David Hedelin started much of his first season in 2014, but coaches expect the Swede to be even better in 2015 after he's more comfortable with Purdue's system. Offensive line Fifth-year senior 57 Robert Kugler* 6-3 294 Seniors 71 Corey Clements 6-8 420 75 David Hedelin* 6-4 298 Juniors 66 Cameron Cermin* 6-5 301 72 Jason King* 6-4 305 70 Jordan Roos* 6-4 312 73 J.J. Prince 6-6 297 77 Joey Warburg 6-5 285 Sophomore 64 Dakota Jelinek 6-3 256 Redshirt freshmen 53 Kirk Barron 6-1 305 74 Martesse Patterson 6-3 345 51 Bearooz Yacoobi 6-5 297 Freshmen 55 Michael Mendez 6-4 282 79 Matt McCann 6-6 315 68 Peyton Truitt 6-5 295 * Projected starters