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VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 43 get some jet sweeps. But I can play outside too. I feel pretty comfortable about both positions." No matter where on offense Franklin is positioned, he will provide atypical size for his position, built as much like a linebacker recruit as a receiver prospect. "I'm physical on the line, I can get off the ball fast and I have good separation," Franklin said. "When I catch the ball, I think I can take a hit, and my size helps me that way. And it helps me get open by get- ting people off me at the line." As a senior at Wheeler, Franklin ran for nearly 1,000 yards and caught passes for about 400 more. He totaled 23 touchdowns. He was one Purdue's first commitments for its class and held to his commitment even though Mary- land offered him in the winter, following its coaching change. KAMAL HARDY There may not be a recruit in this class with a clearer path to the field immediately than Har- dy, a mid-year junior college transfer stepping into what might be Purdue's biggest posi- tion of pressing need: Corner- back. With seniors Frankie Williams and Anthony Brown gone and no proven commodities at the position returning, Hardy, a former Iowa State commitment prior to its coaching change, will get a chance to earn a starting position this spring. "Getting in early in the spring, I'll have an advan- tage over the other DBs who are coming in," he said. "I'm an older guy, a J.C. guy, and coaches bring in a J.C. guy to make an immediate impact. I think I'm going to do that, right away. "They expect me to make an immediate impact, but nothing is guaranteed. I'm going to have to work for it, just like everybody else does." The 6-1, 180-pound Floridian attended Monroe Community College in New York, where he broke up seven passes this season. For more on Hardy, see Pages 46-47. TANNER HAWTHORNE Purdue needed offensive line- men bad late in the process after losing a couple of long-commit- ted prospects. It reached into Ar- izona to find Hawthorne, a 6-6, 275-pound tackle from Centen- nial High School in Glendale. He projects as an offensive tackle, at least to start with. "I'm pretty big, tall and lanky. So I'm considered a tackle," Hawthorne said. "The coaches told me they want me to learn center, guard and tackle. So I'm go- ing to bulk up a little bit and play any position they want me to play at." He committed to the Boilermakers over New Mex- ico State. For more on Hawthorne, see Pages 42-43. JOSH HAYES Darrell Hazell didn't have to see film of Hayes to know he wanted the Indianapolis DB. The Boilermaker head coach saw first-hand when he attend- ed one of Pike High School's practices in 2014, during a Pur- due bye week. "I didn't even know he was there most of practice, before I saw him," Hayes said. "I was just doing what I do in practice." A week later, Hayes held a Purdue offer before vir- tually any other prospect in the state did. What did Hazell see in Hayes? A physical true cornerback prospect with athleti- cism enough to excel on both sides of the ball for his high school team. Hayes made a one-handed interception in practice that day. "(Hazell) said he liked my range and my ball skills," Hayes said. "And my size and the fact that I can run well." The 5-11, 180-pound Rivals.com three-star pros- pect was Purdue's first commitment for the 2016 class.