More on receivers: KeyRon Catlett ($) | Zico 'pushing hard' to make impression | Veterans hanging on

JaMarcus Shephard is trying to do everything he can to rattle Jackson Anthrop.

The wide receivers coach jumps Anthrop at nearly every opportunity. Lined up out of place? Shephard freaks out, yelling at the redshirt freshman, questioning whether he ever belongs on the field. Cut back inside, rather than out, as Anthrop did on a swing pass during Saturday’s practice? That brings down thunder.

Yet, Anthrop hangs in, keeping eye contact with Shephard and listening to the instruction behind the apparent rage.

“The best part about Jackson is that you can be tough on him, whether he catches the ball or not,” Shephard said. “He takes it really well and he keeps moving forward. That kid, I don’t know how I can rattle him. I’m trying to rattle him. He’s really good at taking it well.

“I’ve got a lot of love for Jackson and how he’s out here performing. Yes, he’s catching balls; yes, he’s making plays. He grasps the offense really well. We really don’t have any issues with Jackson.

“He’s pretty much a clutch guy.”

Anthrop is carving out a niche for the Boilermakers, one that might have been unexpected this early in his Purdue career. It was only a year-and-a-half ago that he was a late offer, coming in from Lafayette Central Catholic over only smaller-school offers.

But after redshirting in 2016, Anthrop took advantage of his opportunity in the spring, when Purdue had few other options in the slot due to graduation and injuries. And then, he started to show an ability to make plays. Even then, when he was still trying to grasp the offense, he was able to get himself into the right place at the right time.

Even with sitting out the previous fall, the experience helped, he said.

“Coming into a new offense, it’s a little bit different,” he said. “But when you have that first year under your belt, you feel like you’re a returning guy. So you have to take on that role and help even the guys who are a couple months younger than you.”

Now, Anthrop is competing to be a starter. Through the first week of practices, he’s seemingly held on to that No. 1 spot, holding off competition from Terry Wright, a J.C. transfer, and freshmen Tyler Hamilton and KeyRon Catlett, the latter being one of the breakout players of the summer.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder is doing so by making plays.

“You’ve just got to fill your role,” he said. “I know I’m not the biggest. I know I’m not the fastest, but as long as you get to your spot and you do the right thing and make the simple catch. It’s something I’ve really taken to heart: Catch balls. Catch balls. If you limit your drops to zero, it’s tough to (find other problems). You’ve got to just make the simple plays.”

Anthrop’s doing so on offense, but might figure into special teams, as well. He’s competing at punt return, where he’s likely the frontrunner to win the job, and at kick, too.

Wherever, Purdue is looking for him to make plays.

“He’s like a bulldog,” senior receiver Anthony Mahoungou said. “He’s very humble, doesn’t trash talk, but isn’t going to let you do him dirty. He’s just a playmaker, that’s our guy. He’s our guy in the wide receiver. I believe he’s going to be great this year and upcoming years.”

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