Freshman DB Mosley eager to showcase skills in camp

More from first practice: Quick Count | Point After (audio analysis) ($) | Analysis ($) | Secondary comes out 'aggressive' on Day 1

Navon Mosley was eyeing the No. 2 read on his side of the field, making sure he had the proper leverage, before giving a quick look into the backfield and QB Elijah Sindelar.

When Mosley noticed Sindelar wasn’t looking at that receiver and appeared primed to throw to the other side of the field, Mosley was ready to break when the ball went that way. So when fellow safety C.J. Parker helped collision tight end Brycen Hopkins, who was breaking his route over the middle, and popped the ball in the air, Mosley was in perfect position to make a surge.

And he did — diving forward to snatch the interception.

Not a bad practice debut for the freshman DB from Michigan.

“It was nice,” Mosley said with a smile after Purdue’s first practice of training camp Thursday. “I like to get interceptions. That’s something I do.”

Mosley worked mostly with the second-team defense, but he’s eager to take another step up the depth chart in camp. If teammates’ impressions are worth much, he certainly could.

Player after player raved about Mosley’s summer — not just in the athleticism and skill set he showed in 7-on-7 work but also about his approach.

Senior safety Leroy Clark appreciates Mosley’s attitude, how the rookie came in and put his head down and worked early on, focusing on listening to the upperclassmen instead of doing a bunch of talking. (The weight-room work resulted in 12 pounds gained, pushing Mosley to 192.)

Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley loves how much Mosley studies the game and then spits back what he sees to the veterans.

Quarterback David Blough was wowed by Mosley’s physical tools — the speed, the athleticism — in summer workouts.

Mosley’s just happy he finally gets to showcase the total package with coaches watching full-time.

He knows there’s an opportunity waiting to be seized. Though Clark seems to have one safety spot locked, the other starting job could be up for-the-taking with Brandon Roberts now playing nickel.

“I tell people, ‘I’m a physical, fast guy who gets interceptions who can hit who can play corner.’ I can do a lot of things,” Mosley said. “That’s one thing I really want to show them, when we put the pads on, how physical I can be. Because a lot of people don’t know that yet. That’s something I’ve really got to prove once the pads come on.

“That’s really why I was waiting for camp — to showcase my skills. A lot of the older guys believe in me. I believe in myself. The coaches believe in me. So that’s really what this whole camp is about, showcasing my skills and being able to get on the field.”

• During the first team meeting of the fall on Wednesday night, Hazell shared his team goals with the players. At the top of the list? "The one goal is winning the West. That’s our main focus," he said. "Everything (is) surrounded around that. There’s a method and ways we’re going to win the West, and we explained that all to them and that’s where our hearts and heads are."

• Purdue was without JUCO defensive end Rob Simmons Thursday. Hazell said Simmons is finishing a final project and could report to West Lafayette by the start of school on Aug. 22.

• In late July at Big Ten media day, Hazell teased a potential arrival of a game-changing punt returner. That player — Hazell won't mention a name — wasn't at practice either Thursday. "We’re still working through that one, too," Hazell said.

• David Blough got the bulk of the first-team reps at QB, and Hazell said that's the plan for the "first couple days." But that isn't an indication sophomore Blough has secured the job over redshirt freshman Elijah Sindelar, Hazell said.

"Everything is subject to change," Hazell said. "We’re not going to have any kneejerk reactions. We’ll take our time and let those guys battle it out and find out who’s the best guy when we open up the season."

• Only three players were in the pit on Day 1. D.J. Knox and Eric Swingler are coming off ACL surgeries in the spring, and DB Mike Little, who is nursing an ankle injury, could miss at least a week, Hazell said.

• The NCAA rule change allowing coaches to like or retweet prospects on Twitter apparently hasn't compelled Hazell to start an account. "I’m not thinking about Twitter right now," he said. Few of Purdue's coaches have taken advantage of the new rule, perhaps not wanting to tip off who they're recruiting.

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