This summer, the Boilermakers are being divided.
Reporters Stacy Clardie and Kyle Charters are going head-to-head in GoldandBlack.com's Purdue player draft, a daily selection in which separate rosters of 25 are being assembled. In late July, we'll decide — based on GoldandBlack.com staff and member feedback — which team would win.
Clardie is next up with No. 37.
Purdue desperately needs young players to emerge on the interior of its defensive line this fall. Without Ra’Zahn Howard, little-used Langston Newton, Keiwan Jones and Ryan DeBusk spent time with the first- and second-team units in the spring. Though any of those players could make a move in camp, it’s more likely Purdue will give its three scholarship freshmen considerable chances to land in the two-deep.
Haven’t seen any of those guys play in person. (Love Anthony Watts’ attitude, though, after speaking with him and how he much he values a high motor.) But because of sheer size and an apparent need to have a run-stopper in the middle of my line — though Eddy Wilson certainly qualifies, I think — my next pick goes to that end. It's Lorenzo Neal.
Apparently Neal had quite a spring pre-Purdue arrival. When we spoke in May, he said he was 315 pounds — right where coaches told him they want him to be in the fall — but when he reported to campus in mid-June, he was in the 340s. Here’s hoping he’s lost some of that over a month of intense conditioning and offseason training, but even if he has hit the ideal weight by now, I’ll still have 615 pounds between my two interior guys for Kyle’s to-be-named center and guard Mike Mendez to handle.
Though Neal and Wilson could both be nose tackles — not entirely sure Neal’s spot is firmed up quite yet — Neal is an intriguing choice. If for nothing else than because Jake Replogle mentioned how impressed he was — even with Neal coming in overweight — with how Neal moves and his hips. An endorsement from Purdue’s best player is enough for me to take a chance to fill up my front.
More: Draft ticker 1-35 | 36. David Yancey
More: "Countdown to Camp" series: Quarterbacks
More: Changes to run game could spark production ($) | Much-needed vocal leaders emerging this summer ($)
More: 2016 football primer
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