Training camp Practice No. 6 Notebook

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Purdue has developed a history for churning out top-flight defensive ends. Players like Rosevelt Colvin, Anthony Spencer, Cliff Avril and Chike Okeafor, among others, have matriculated from West Lafayette to the NFL ... and excelled.

But it has been a while since the program has added a member to its “Den of Defensive Ends” fraternity. The last truly impactful end? Ryan Kerrigan, who played at Purdue from 2007-10. That’s a long time ago. But it looks like the program may have a special talent in freshman George Karlaftis, who one day may join that exclusive club of defensive ends.

Yes, the West Lafayette High School product has yet to play a game. But he has done everything right up to this point and looks poised to impact as an 18-year-old this fall. He teems with potential and has impressed teammates, coaches and on-lookers who happen by practice.

“George, if you watched practice today, when you get reps that are semi-live, he seems to be around the ball a lot which is a great thing,” said defensive ends coach Kevin Wolthausen. “He is young, he is learning on the move. He has done a good job.”

The 6-4, 265-pound Karlaftis notched four sacks in scrimmage work today, according to GoldandBlack.com's count. He is a raw but talented player who is defined by his work ethic. He usually is one of the last players to leave the practice field. And you can see him sometimes drilling with junior offensive tackle Grant Hermanns.

"Yes, he will stay behind with me and work on stuff," said Karlaftis. "He shows me things to help vs. offensive linemen. I appreciate it."

J.D. Dellinger is the unquestioned kicker this fall.

He redshirted last year while cannon-legged Spencer Evans held the job. Dellinger shared field-goal duties with Evans in 2016, when Dellinger showed moxie by nailing a game-winning field goal in overtime at Illinois. He says he’s ready to be the man in 2019.

“I am hitting field goals really, really well right now,” said Dellinger, a 6-2, 195-pound product of Charlotte, N.C. “I am very pleased with it so far.”

The junior also will kickoff, which is something he really wants to do and has put in a lot of work on.

“I worked on my technique and rhythm running to the ball,” he said. “That is where I struggled the most. Having that rhythm and technique helps me make the right kind of contact and just obliterate (the ball) as far as it will go.”

Touchbacks are the goal every time, weather permitting.

“We are shooting for as many touchbacks as we can get this year,” said Dellinger.

Anthony Watts is pretty proud of his body. Just ask him.

"I look good, don't I?" said the affable Watts, one of the brighter personalities on the team.

The 6-4, 300-pound defensive tackle has been mindful of what he has eaten the past year. And that has been key.

"That was all me,” said Watts about the motivation to change his body. “The new era of defensive linemen aren’t just fat and big. They are working on their body. They are looking cleaner. I want to … change my eating habits. It was a challenge to bulk up and lose the fat and not lose body weight.”

Watts has gotten a big assist from Purdue’s director of sports nutrition Lauren Link.

“Just eating right,” he said. “It started after the Auburn game. I take losses personally. Right then, I started to eat right. I haven’t eaten fast food (in a long time). I haven’t eaten pork. Straight chicken breasts, steak, beef, lean things.

“Lauren Link actually has a great plan. She sends me what I should eat, she monitors my dinner. It’s all about what you eat.”

Watts also has improved his weight room habits. He even does 150 push-ups and 200 sit-ups each day. Does he do them all at once?

"Noooo!" he said. "50 at a time."

Beyond the high-profile position battles going on in camp, there is the fight to win the punting job between freshman Brooks Cormier and sophomore Zac Collins.

“I have had some good days, and others when I am off,” said Cormier. “Punting far and high, I got. Directionally, I think I can do, too. It’s just the op time for me, the major thing for me. Just getting faster with it. In high school, you didn’t have to go as fast. Guys weren’t as fast. But up here, everyone is fast. So, you have to get the ball off quick or it gets blocked.

“Consistency is the other thing I need to improve.”

The 6-5, 215-pound Cornier competes each day with sophomore Zac Collins, as Purdue looks to replace Joe Schopper.

“It’s back and forth,” said Cormier. “This year, we will be good on special teams. I will tell you that.”

When will the job be decided? Could be the week of the Nevada game.

“Unless something surfaces (before then),” said special teams coach Kevin Wolthausen. "It might be determined a whole lot sooner. We will see who feels most comfortable back there.

“We will start doing a lot more team stuff, and you get a chance (to see how they react). Brooks has a great leg. Now, you put 11 guys on the other side of the ball with protection and all that stuff … ”

Stay tuned.

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