4/19/2016 football Edit

Indy receiver drawing Big Ten looks, Purdue included

Brian Neubert • BoilerUpload

GoldandBlack.com staff

Purdue's likely to looking to sign a 2017 class of multiple wide receivers and maybe multiple tight ends.

If the Boilermaker staff chooses to target Cathedral's Luke Sanders, he might be able to fit either category.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder from Indianapolis primarily plays receiver for the Irish, catching 51 passes for 815 yards and 10 scores as a junior.

But physically, coaches see tight end potential, too.

"Some coaches have asked me what I think I can play and I know Central Michigan is looking at me as a possible tight end," Sanders said. "They said it might depend on their camp. If I run a 4.55, they'd consider me a receiver, and if it's slower than that, then probably a tight end. I think I could put on a lot of weight. It doesn't matter to me where I play. I just want to be a football player."

As a receiver, Sanders' size obviously stands out, in addition to the fact he's athletic enough to run hurdles for his high school and versatile enough to serve, too, as its long-snapper.

"They like my frame. I'm 6-4, 195, and they like my ability to go up and get the ball," he said. "And they like my speed along with my frame. I run a lot of fades and I can get by a lot of guys. I think it might be kind of deceiving, because I have long legs and long strides. I just find a way to get behind cornerbacks. I think I have good back-end speed. Then, with my frame, coaches seem to think I have pretty good up-side.

"I've already gained 12 pounds since the last football game of my junior season, so I think I'll be able to put on a lot more weight. I'm young, too. I just turned 17. My dad was a defensive end and got up to 235 and my uncle was an offensive lineman and got up to 265 when he played at the University of Indianapolis. I think it's probably in my genetics to gain weight."

Purdue joins Indiana, Northwestern and several Mid-American Conference teams in monitoring his progress at this point.

Ball State and Elon had offered as of earlier this spring.

The camp season will be important toward Sanders' hopes of turning bigger-program attention into offers, Purdue being one of those taking a look.

Sanders visited Purdue for a spring practice a few weeks ago.

"I talked to Coach (Gerad) Parker and he said he'd possibly come watch me at a track practice to see how I run, and go from there. He wants me to keep talking to them to build a relationship."