VOLUME 26, ISSUE 4 49
LORENZO NEAL
One of Purdue's A-list targets at
nose tackle, the Houston native
and NFL legacy committed to
Utah, then decommitted, then
wound up with the Boilermakers
in the winter.
The hulking 6-2,
320-plus-pounder from St.
Thomas High School is another
anchor sort of player for the middle of Purdue's de-
fensive line, something that was a clear emphasis for
its staff this recruiting cycle.
"They like that even though I'm a big guy, I'm quick
and explosive and the fact I have a lot of experience
and I've played a lot of plays for my team," Neal said.
"They like my effort and I think they understand that
since I grew up around football, maybe I see it a little
differently, all the way down to pre-snap reads, ten-
dencies, whatever it may be, I might see things other
people don't."
Neal is the son of former long-time NFL fullback
Lorenzo Neal, a former teammate
of ex-Purdue star Drew Brees. The
younger Neal will wear No. 9 as a
Boilermaker in homage to Brees,
who's worn the number as a profes-
sional.
C.J. PARKER
The Boilermak-
ers want to im-
prove their tack-
ling all across
their defense.
With that in
mind, Purdue's
coaches looked
to Parker in
hopes the 6-2, 205-pounder can make
the team more physical in the back
end of the defense.
The charismatic junior college
transfer seems like a potential lead-
er, as well.
"When I was getting recruited,
they were looking for some age to put in the room
