Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/766803
GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 3 46 ity, as opposed to the usual two, who woke the morning of the mid-year signing date to a message from Brohm and ended the day signed to play for a team he'd only first heard from hours before. Brohm is known for prolific offense, a quarterback at heart who has fielded offenses that should appeal to that position, as well as receivers, running backs and tight ends. But the new Boilermaker coach has repeatedly made mention of the line of scrimmage as being of critical im- portance in recruiting. Thus, Smart and Higgins, among more to come. "Even though you don't want to reach on many guys, we also have to get guys who can play effectively there," Brohm said of signing offensive and defensive linemen right off the bat. "Those are two positions we need to stress hard that need to be filled to where we have the athleticism and toughness to be productive." Jallow, a Rivals.com three-star prospect who'd been committed to Louisville earlier in the process and chose Purdue over Kansas, will be brought in in hopes of boost- ing a thin secondary that can stand an athletic and phys- icality upgrade, among other things. "Traditionally, I try not to take too many guys from (the junior college market), and instead just use those guys to plug in needs," Brohm said. "This year, we will probably sign a few more J.C. guys than usual, but as we get roll- ing here we would like to taper that back a little bit and just use it to address urgent needs." Purdue did sign two high school players, too, to enroll mid-year, those being wide receiver Tyler Hamilton — a three-star recruit from South Carolina power Hilton Head High School — and Jalen Jackson, an offensive lineman from Georgia who was previously committed to Brohm at Western Kentucky. Brohm has brought two Hilltopper commitments with him to this point, as three-star tight end prospect Dari- us Pittman has switched to the Boilermakers, too. More could follow. Purdue also added an in-state commitment from DB prospect Jacob Abrams of Carmel, one of the state's most talent-rich programs and one of Brohm's first stops when he made the rounds of Indianapolis a few days after his hiring. Brohm's talked about a "three- hour radius" around West Lafayette that he hopes to strongly emphasize in recruiting, though Florida and Georgia are sure to be among heavy emphases too. Of that Midwest base, though, Brohm will work to rebuild some in- state bridges in coming years. Purdue has barely been a factor for most of the best players in Indiana the past eight years, many of which wound up at rival Indiana. Most of the best players in the state for 2017 are committed elsewhere already, but it's likely Purdue will at least put some feelers out to many of them and see what comes of it. But the hiring of Shephard, a Fort Wayne native who's well-connected in the state, signals an emphasis on Indiana. 1600 South Creasy Lane Lafayette, IN 47905 1-866-906-6223 Bob Rohrman Subaru Buy a Subaru and Keep Indiana Driving. BRAND NEW 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK w w w. B o b R o h r m a n S u b a r u . c o m