Joe Tiller has been spending much of Purdue's offseason in Wyoming where he and his wife, Arnette, are building a house. That's where they'll settle when Tiller retires after this season. But that doesn't mean Tiller is out of the loop with his team.
Though Tiller won't return to campus until August 4, he's been checking in with coaches and academic advisers. In terms of the latter, it sounds like most of the players will be ready to go when camp starts August 10.
Tiller said only freshman receiver Jordan Brewer currently is academically ineligible. Brewer will enroll in junior college. Purdue should be able to absorb that loss with Greg Orton, Desmond Tardy, Keith Smith, Arsenio Curry and Aaron Valentin all as nice options at the position.
Tiller will find out more on potential academic casualties when he returns to campus.
"There probably will be a surprise," Tiller said at the Big Ten media day. "There always is. What you hope is you only have one surprise -- you don't have six. ... We don't have many guys on the bubble anymore. We don't have the 19 we had the first year we were at Purdue. We may have three or four (per year)."
- Tiller can't pinpoint just which freshmen will get playing time this season, but he's high on linebacker Dwayne Beckford. Tiller likes Beckford's speed and strength combination, though that may be on display sparingly. Anthony Heygood and Jason Werner are "locks" to start at linebacker, according to Tiller. It looks like Kevin Green may be moving toward that label, too. Tiller said Green had "looked like Tarzan and played like Jane" early in his career, but in spring ball, Green showed the kind of physical style of play the coaches' desire.
- Another true freshman to watch: running back Ralph Bolden. Tiller said Bolden is rehabbing from an injury, but if he's given the OK by doctors, "he's talented enough to play as a true freshman."
-- By Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette
Purdue's defense will exceed projections thanks to the addition of Homesteads Jarrod Shaw.A walk-on that may contribute this season.
Posted by: Shaw | July 31, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I haven't heard Tiller mention Shaw. But there is lack of depth at linebacker, so one never knows who could emerge, I suppose.
Posted by: Stacy | July 31, 2008 at 04:24 PM