GoldandBlack.com's Purdue player draft: No. 38 overall
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.
Charters now at No. 38.
It's probably about time to do something about my secondary.
But what?
Trying to sort this out is a bit difficult, because outside of the ones chosen — and even a couple of those are questionable — it becomes a mix of possibilities, none of whom has separated himself. So at least a freshman is going to get a chance at cornerback, probably more, and Purdue is bringing in three, with Brandon Shuman, Josh Hayes and Simeon Smiley, plus J.C. Kamal Hardy.
Out of that group, I'm picking Shuman, because he seems to have a skill set that could translate to Purdue early in his career. The biggest question had been his size, but he's picked up weight on his 5-foot-11 frame, bringing him to around 180-plus as of mid-summer. If he could get himself into the mid-180s by the time camp rolls around, then the physicality concern is lessened. The Miami native has good speed, having run, he says, a laser-timed 4.5 in a 40-yard dash.
Still, it's a risky pick.
We've reached the point in our draft where we're sometimes picking between a known product and the mystery behind Door No. 2. And sometimes blind pick seems worth the risk. Stacy did it Tuesday with Lorenzo Neal; now, I pick up Shuman.
Only a dozen selections left. Who's in? Who's out?
More: Draft ticker 1-35 | 36. David Yancey | 37. Lorenzo Neal
More: "Countdown to Camp" series: Quarterbacks | Linebackers
More: Changes to run game could spark production ($) | Much-needed vocal leaders emerging this summer ($)
More: 2016 football primer
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