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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 54 Sullivan comes in as a towering de- fensive end, but could just as soon grow into a defensive tackle, maybe even an offensive tackle. Such flexibility in those sorts of body types can be a pretty valu- able resource in recruiting, but in the short term, so much will depend on physical development. Height: 6-5 Weight: 255 High School: Plainfield East Hometown: Plainfield, Ill. Senior Stats: 20 tackles, six sacks, an interception and a forced fumble J ack Sullivan has the frame, pushing close to 6-foot-6, to put on significantly more weight. Already, he's done so, gaining from his junior season to senior, allowing for a jump in production. And there's room for more once the defensive lineman gets to Purdue. "He's improved himself from year to year," Plainfield East coach Terrance Terry said. "I think if you were to go back and watch his film from the previous year and then watch his senior film, you'll see a major difference. You see tre- mendous growth. "For Jack, the biggest thing will be getting down there as fast as he can, getting in their system, getting in their weight room, and Coach (Jeff) Brohm will see continued great growth." Purdue loved Sullivan's upside, a reason why it offered and accepted a commitment in July, after getting the D-end to flip from Northern Illinois. "We think he can be a solid football player who plays tough and physical and can continue to get bigger," Brohm said on signing day in December. Sullivan, a two-way player for East, could come up with big plays defensively, like his half dozen sacks and two turnovers. "He's a difference-maker," Terry said. "I can distinctly remember a play where from the D-line he hops up and catches an interception and is running the other way and his guys are leading him. He can make those kinds of plays on a consistent basis. I can count the amount of times we're in practice and he's batting a ball or getting an interception or making a big hit in the backfield. I've seen Jack do it so much that it's become routine. "As a coach, you kind of sit back and understand that you're watching something special. I certainly think he's going to be a special player at the next level, no question." The Purdue Fit Did You Know? Sullivan hadn't played organized football until his freshman year at Plainfield East. Jack Sullivan Defensive line "I thought it was a stretch when Pur- due took Sullivan's commitment back in the summer, but the Chicagoland product made good strides as a senior and looked much more like a Big Ten prospect. He has good size for the position and now needs to develop the killer instinct." — Midwest analyst Josh Helmholdt rivals.com take