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Boilermaker Smorgasbord: Midweek Notes

Published: 20th Mar 12 10:19 pm
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Drew Wooden
Drew Wooden
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Although basketball season has come to a heartbreaking close and football season is nearly a half year away, there is still lots of Purdue sports news. Let’s review:

  • Purdue football spring practice is in full swing after spring break. The biggest news is that wide receiver OJ Ross, who will have junior eligibility next season, has returned to the team. As Mike Carmin reports, he had his scholarship taken away after missing class. This semester, he’s paying his own way and has rejoined the team in hopes to earn back his scholarship for next season. The Boilers are thin at wide receiver and the talented Ross was third in receptions and yards last year. He could be a pivotal playmaker next year if he follows through with his academic commitments.
  • Purdue football sideline reporter and former Boiler football player Kelly Kitchel has been one of the lucky ones to observe Purdue’s spring football practices. He made one observation on Twitter that I think will speak true this coming year: “D-Line will be this teams backbone with Short, Gaston, Taylor, Russell, and Jalini Phillips [sic].” First of all, Kawaan Short is a special player. I think he’ll be dominant as an athletic defensive tackle. Undoubtedly, he will be double teamed some of the time this upcoming season. That will open up the opportunity for Bruce Gaston and others to make plays. Kitchel predicts that Jalani Phillips will have a breakout season. That would be phenomenal for Purdue’s defense because they’re desperately needing a pass rusher that can get to the quarterback and crack the backfield. If nothing else, Short and Gaston will serve as possibly the best tandem of defensive tackles in the Big Ten.
  • A follow-up to last week’s story about Purdue men’s basketball recruiting target Trency Jackson: Purdue plans to watch Jackson at the Junior College National Championships. Jackson is a 6-2 combo guard who can explode with athleticism for a dunk in the lane or hit six three-pointers in a game, like he has done this season. He has three years of eligibility left and his athleticism would make him a great fit in Purdue’s man-to-man pressure defense. Not to mention, he is two years older than a typical freshman so his added maturity and physicality would give him a better chance to be an impact player. At this point, it looks like Jackson may be the number one recruiting target for Purdue this offseason. Among other schools recruiting him are Pitt, Cincinnati, Wichita State, and Kansas State.
  • Former Purdue player Brad Miller has told the media that he will be hanging it up after this season. He’s currently in his 14th year in the NBA. He’s played several places, but will go out as a Minnesota Timberwolf (unless a mid-season trade were to happen).
  • At least one college basketball analyst thinks Robbie Hummel will get drafted and have his shot in the NBA. Seth Davis answered an inquiry on Twitter saying that he thinks Hummel will get his shot. I sure hope so!
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One Rant to “Boilermaker Smorgasbord: Midweek Notes”

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    1. Basketball Recruit Profile: Trency Jackson - Purdue Boilermakers Football : Purdue Boilermakers Football says:
      March 22, 2012 at 9:09 am

      [...] Painter is hot on the recruiting trail. This time, it’s at the Junior College National Championships, featuring Northwest Florida Junior College. Among their players is 6-2 guard Trency Jackson, who [...]

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