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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 4 21 that scholarship on his own merits by Purdue's former staff, a point it made clear to him and his family. When Brohm was hired, he stood behind the commit- ment Purdue made to the legacy prospect. Now, the 6-2, 205-pounder from the Tampa area will come to the Boilermakers as part of a multi-quarterback class, something different than what they already have in the program. Mike Alstott has always spoken of his son as a play- er as being defined by intangibles as much as anything else, by his competitiveness, leadership and under- standing of his position. Maybe that's the high school coach talking as much as the father, but it's a descrip- tion Griffin Alstott embraces. "I really do eat, breath and sleep football," he said, acknowledging he's been conditioned that way by his upbringing. "The quarterback has to be a natural, born leader, be accountable for everybody else out there and know what everyone else is doing. I try to do all of that." Alstott is known, though, as a strong-armed quarter- back with some athleticism to him, as well. He threw for 2,400-plus yards and 31 touchdowns, against eight interceptions, as a senior, leading Northside Christian to a 10-3 record and what he called "the best season in school history." He also ran for 235 yards and eight touchdowns, upping his rushing pro- duction considerably over the year prior. "Obviously we know the family history," Brohm said. "Because of that, he is a great competitor. He is a little different quarterback. He can throw the ball very well, but also he's more of a runner. He can tuck it and run, find a way to get first downs with his feet. "He'll be a little bit more of a dual-threat guy to a cer- tain degree. That's not his specialty, but he definitely can tuck the ball down and get first downs. He has some toughness and grit, and I think he'll have some of the moxie you're looking for at that position." DERRICK BARNES LB • 6-1, 240 • Covington, Ky. (Holy Cross) Playing at a small school that hasn't produced many major-col- lege prospects and having really only played two seasons of high school football, the linebacker re- cruit feels like he slipped through the cracks in recruiting. Purdue might agree, especially after it added him the weekend before the signing date, moving him off a months-long commitment to Toledo. "All my life I dreamed of going to a big school like that," Barnes said. Some looked. Late in the process, after his standout senior season, Ohio State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, USC and Ten- nessee showed passing interest, but it was late enough in that process to where those schools' classes were far enough along that the looks stayed as just that. Purdue's coaches, though, had recruited Barnes while at Western Kentucky, their interest first being piqued by his potential as a running back prospect, before its defensive coaches were won over by his potential as a linebacker. That opinion moved with them to Purdue and Barnes was offered a scholarship in late January, which he ac- cepted following an official visit just before signing day. Mary Lynn Lampke Derrick Barnes became interested in Purdue once Jeff Brohm was named head coach.