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42 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED only 19 turnovers, ninth in the con- ference. To put it plainly: Too frequently, the Boilermakers couldn't stop oppo- nents at critical opportunities. "We've got to get the ball back," Hudson said. "We've got to get stops and we've got to get turnovers; when the ball is in the air, we've got to go get it." The Boilermakers seems to be putting in the work. In May, when players frequently take a few weeks away from campus, Purdue had several key defensive pieces stick around. Those included (but weren't limited to) Replogle, Ryan Watson, Michael Rouse and Ra'Zahn Howard — Purdue's top four interior linemen — cornerbacks Frankie Williams and Anthony Brown, linebacker Danny Ezechukwu and others. Williams, a likely captain, was pleased with the turnout. "I think our team understands that we need every edge that we can," the senior said. "So any time available to get some work in, we need those guys there. "I'm excited. … We know the position that we're in, (being lightly regarded). I'd take this position over every one except one, and that would be Big Ten champs. That's the only one I'd replace it with. It'll be a fun year." Williams has rea- sons for optimism. Purdue seeming- ly has strength in its middle, with a deep interior line, plus budding star Ja'Whaun Bentley at middle lineback- er. And Bentley, in combination with Jimmy Herman and Ezechukwu gives the Boilermakers their biggest, most physical and po- tentially best set of linebackers in more than a decade. Williams and Brown are top-flight cornerbacks, perhaps one of the bet- ter combinations in the Big Ten. Questions abound, too. Purdue has Tom Campbell The Boilermakers' deepest position defensively might be on the interior of the defensive line, led by junior tackle Jake Replogle. Years since Purdue last had a defensive end record more than four sacks. Ryan Kerrigan last did so, collecting 12.5 in 2010. Years of experience for Pur- due's top four interior linemen. Jake Replogle, Ryan Watson (pictured), Michael Rouse and Ra'Zahn Howard have combined for 31 career starts. Purdue's fourth-down defense percentage, as it allowed op- ponents to convert only 4-of-18 chances. It ranked not only first in the Big Ten but tied for tops (Arkansas) in the country. By The Numbers 5 10 .222 Photos by Tom Campbell