Freshman Focus: Purdue cornerback Dedrick Mackey

Dedrick Mackey played mainly safety and nickel in high school, mixing in only a little at cornerback.

One might not know that, however, by watching him in practice, according to those who have seen the freshman up close in the first week of training camp.

The Miami, Fla., native just moves like a cornerback, position coach Derrick Jackson said, with quick footwork and subtle hip movement that allow him to get into the right positions with ease. And considering he’s a relative novice at the position — and might be just now growing into his body — it has many feeling optimistic about his future at Purdue.