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PRESENTS RECRUITING NEWS AND NOTES Recruiting Roundup BY GOLD AND BLACK STAFF Cothren, a Purdue commitment since the summer, has switched his pledge to Penn State after a weekend official visit to State College. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound de- Alabama PURDUE LOSES COMMITMENT lineman Parker Michigan, along with Illinois, which made Bates-Diop a front- burner priority as soon as Coach John Groce got the job there. Following the summer, Michi- gan State and Ohio State of- fered, as did Indiana, and he took visits to both. Bates-Diop made multiple fensive end from Hazel Green, Ala., becomes the second com- mitment to back out in favor of another Big Ten program, joining junior college recruit and former Purdue signee Randy Gregory, who switched to Nebraska. Purdue is down to 12 com- mitments for the Class of 2013. Cothren originally commit- ted to Purdue in July after also fielding offers from Troy, West- ern Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin, Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State, among others. Interestingly, Cothren only fielded interest from Penn State after he visited Purdue for its loss to the Nittany Lions. put in a situation like that, it hits home a little bit, after scoring 16 points in St. Charles (Ill.) East's season-open- "It's a cliché but when you're " Stephens said ing win over Rich South. "When you go in and it maybe hurts a lit- tle bit, it reminds you what you're playing for and your love for the game and how fast it can all be visits to Purdue, as well. He's a member of the Illinois Wolves summer program that produced Purdue signees in the classes of 2012 (Jay Simpson) and 2013 (Kendall Stephens). Lineman Parker Cothren has switched his com- mitment from Purdue to Penn State. BATES-DIOP COMMITS TO OHIO STATE time Purdue Class of 2014 recruit- ing target Keita Bates-Diop com- mitted to Ohio State on Sunday. The blue-chip 6-7 forward In a surprising move, long- STEPHENS PLAYING THROUGH PAIN ee Kendall Stephens is going to have to undergo surgery to re- pair the torn labrum in his right shoulder. At some point, Purdue sign- from Normal is considered a top-25-range player in his class and was immediately targeted in the early going by Purdue and going to try to salvage a senior season, playing with his team as long as he can until his body and the calendar say it's time to go under the knife. Estimated recovery time from the surgery will be six months. But in the meantime, he's www.fortwaynesubaru.com Fort Wayne Subaru 5000 Illinois Road Fort Wayne, IN 47905 260-432-4567 www.bobrohrmansubaru.com Bob Rohrman Subaru 1600 South Creasy Lane Lafayette, IN 47905 765-449-8100 GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 23, EXPRESS 12 • 36 Buy Subaru and keep Indiana driving.