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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 3 36 losses it'll incur and the need for an upgrade even without those losses. First off, Moore would be a significant get, one of the fastest, most explosive players in the country, and one who was recruited accordingly. He committed early to Texas but kept an eye on Purdue throughout the season, after also being verbally offered in the spring by Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama and countless others after running a 4.33 with a 42-inch vertical at a camp in Chicago. He's only 5-8 or so, but the dynamic athlete would like- ly be the type who could merit his own subset of plays in Brohm's playbook, because of his speed and versatility. In the fall, Purdue was zeroed in on Moore and Staten Island's Amad Anderson as their two remaining priorities. Anderson committed late in the season, breaking a com- mitment to Rutgers, and enrolled in January. He'll have every chance to contribute right away. Brohm specifically cited Anderson's "polish" as a wide receiver, an element it largely lacked in its inherited personnel this season. Jordan Bonner, a 6-3 downfield type, was Purdue's first commitment at the position and one of its earliest prior- ities; late in the process, Kory Taylor came into the pic- ture and fit the Boilermaker coaches' need for size on the boundary, the importance of which was shown late in the season by end-of-year star Anthony Mahoungou, a depart- ing senior. Taylor is 6-5, 200 pounds. "I think his versatility, his height, his physical makeup QUICKLY … A few quick thoughts on Purdue's 2018 recruiting cycle, Jeff Brohm's first full class as its coach. This class passes the eyeball test unlike most others the program's signed in recent years. Even if it doesn't pan out as Purdue would like, it will have changed the Boilermakers' look. Purdue will be very aggressive with its scholarships. A half dozen players who at one time or another committed to Purdue were not signed. Brohm has made no secret of the fact the evaluation will continue even after a player's committed and the new early signing period has com- pelled coaches to be more discerning when it comes to academic or health questions. Purdue didn't lose a single commitment to another school, a welcomed change after the free-for-all of com- mitments and decommitments that plagued the last staff. That speaks, to at least some extent, to the sudden strength of Purdue's brand and recruits' connection to the coaching staff, because there are a number of players here good enough to be poaching targets. Winning helped, too. Purdue moved away from the junior college market with this class, proving last year's activity there was a sit- uational thing and this staff will probably only dabble in that arena from here on out. This 2018 signing class could very well comprise the bulk of Purdue's offense three years from now, when you look at how things are due to play out on the offensive line and at wide receiver and the numbers involved with this class. And Purdue's coaches love QB Jack Plummer. Rondale Moore hadn't committed as of press time, but was due to announce Jan. 6. He'd give Purdue its second "splash" recruit under Brohm, the other being 2019's George Karlaftis, who committed in September over of- fers from Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Alabama, No- tre Dame and pretty much anyone else who matters. Buzz matters, and these sorts of decisions really help when it comes to attracting the attention of a higher level of recruit. — Brian Neubert Rivals.com Explosive receiver Rondale Moore was expected to announce a commitment to Purdue on Jan. 6.