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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 28 "over-recruit" — i.e. go above and beyond from a schol- arship-allotment perspective — in order to make sure Purdue has options and a robust personnel pool. This year's group isn't excessive in volume; Purdue signed four offensive linemen, which is pretty standard. But Boilermaker coaches will hope they hit on tackles Jimmy McKenna, Eric Miller and Will Bramel and interi- or lineman Charles Allen, or at least most of them. The O-line class, too, represents Brohm's vision for of- fensive play in his system. Every coach wants size and athleticism in his offen- sive linemen, but given the nature of his offensive M.O., Brohm will take quickness and mobility over brawn and power every day of the week, within reason. Miller and McKenna reflect that especially, both of them being light and narrow by offensive tackle stan- dards, but quicker and lighter on their feet than most at their position. Bramel is built a bit wider, but would fall more into the same category, as well. Allen is reputed for his athleticism, too, relative to his bottom-heavy 290-or-so-pound body. He proj- ects as a guard, but could get a look at center, where Purdue will soon be in the market for its next starter once Kirk Barron departs. Purdue needs help now on the offensive line and may look for a grad transfer to supplement its ranks, but freshmen playing on the offensive line is very much the exception in college football and not the rule, but Brohm and staff will hope for an impact from this group beginning in 2019, perhaps. Brohm specifically said he hoped this group would yield "three-year starters," plural. Defensive Line: Same deal. Brohm puts a premium on line depth on both sides of the ball and his program hit a bit of a personnel vacuum in this recruiting cycle where a reload was needed. Purdue signed six of them, the common denominator being size, lots of physically mature defensive end types — Branson Deen, K.J. Stokes, Jack Cravaack, Jack Sulli- van and mid-year signee Jeff Marks — and a 300-pound tackle in Indiana's Lawrence Johnson. Unlike the offensive line, it might be reasonable to ex- pect a freshman or two to crack the Boilermaker depth chart this season. Over time, this group could scatter positionally, with some of the bigger defensive ends conceivably possibil- ities to move inside, some of the other D-ends maybe equipped to play as stand-up ends, and some of them con- ceivably candidates one day to move to offense, whether it be offensive tackle or, in the case of Cravaack, tight 2018 Big Ten (National) Rankings ESPN Rivals 247/Scout OSU (2) OSU (2) OSU (2) PSU (4) PSU (5) PSU (5) MICH (20) NEB (21) MICH (21) NEB (21) MICH (24) NEB (22) MINN (30) MSU (26) MD (28) MD (31) MD (29) MSU (32) MSU (34) IOWA (T39) MINN (37) WIS (39) WIS (T39) IOWA (40) IOWA (43) MINN (42) WIS (44) PUR (46) IU (44) IU (48) IU (48) PUR (49) PUR (50) NW (49) ILL (50) ILL (55) ILL(54) RUT (T57) RUT (57) RUT (59) NW (59) NW (59) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Big Ten Ranking National Ranking Purdue Recruiting Rankings 2001-2018* *Rivals.com Andy Schneider Purdue was looking for taller options at outside receiver. Kory Taylor qualifies.