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38 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com I f Purdue's going to have any big-play capability as an offense this year, Danny Anthrop is likely going to have to be a big part of it. If Purdue's going to have much big-play ca- pability in the future, it's going to have to find play- ers to replace those like Anthrop, the senior wide receiver who's averaged more than 50 yards on his seven career touchdown catches. "You want to feature him because he is gifted in what he does and he is a great leader," said Gerad Parker, Purdue's wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, "but you also want to feature him so that later in the season you can show recruits, 'Hey, this is how we'll use guys like you.' " That has been an emphasis for Purdue as it's assembled its 2016 recruiting class, for which offensive speed has been a priority, particularly for the sort of role Anthrop will be vacating. Purdue used last year's signing class to become big- ger, more physical and older at wide receiver, signing a pair of junior college recruits. In 2016, it must become faster. As a means to that end, it recruited Tennessee slot receiver prospect Nate Johnson, who committed to the Boilermakers after being offered a scholarship follow- ing a strong showing at the program's satellite camp in Nashville in June. At that camp, Johnson ran a 4.49 40-yard dash, flash- ing the sort of wheels Purdue's looking for. "They did talk to me about (needing speed)," John- son said. "They told me all about how Danny Anthrop is a real fast and real elusive guy and when he grad- uates, they'd like me to be able to (replace him with) me. "That was a good thing to hear from them. I just have to keep doing what I do, but you can always get faster. I just have to keep developing my speed and working hard at it and it'll all turn out well." Additionally, Purdue's taken a commitment from Jack Wegher, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound athlete who plays running back primarily for powerful IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Wegher was recruited to be used situationally in the Eye On Speed PRESENTS: FOOTBALL RECRUITING Purdue looking for ways to become faster on offense Brian Neubert Gerad Parker, Purdue's recruiting coordi- nator, watches Jack Wegher during a camp this summer. Rivals.com Purdue wants speed in its 2016 class, and after Nate Johnson ran a 4.49 at its Nashville camp, it offered. He accepted soon after.