MORE: Spring Football Central

The defensive line has been noteworthy this spring for who isn’t playing almost as much as for who is playing.

Tackle Lorenzo Neal will miss all of spring drills recovering from knee surgery after getting hurt in the Old Oaken Bucket game. Fellow tackle Anthony Watts has missed the last two practices as he continues to get over an injury he played through late last season. “Leo” Derrick Barnes is just now working his way back on the field after missing the first two weeks of spring drills getting over thumb surgery and then a hamstring issue.

“The expectation is (Watts and Barnes) both will be back before spring is over,” said defensive line coach Reggie Johnson. “Anytime you lose guys who have played that much ball for you, you miss ‘em. They hate being out because they want the reps and they want to get better. But the big thing now is to get them healthy.”

Their absence has allowed youngsters like early enrollee defensive end George Karlaftis to get plenty of reps this spring. And Karlaftis has looked good.

“When you get a talented kid like George, you have to get him on the field,” said Johnson. “That gives us some flexibility with guys like G (Giovanni Reviere, who moved from end to tackle late last season). Again, based on who we are facing, (Reviere) may have a chance to get back out and do some things on the edge. But the whole thing is to find the best guys, get them on the field and see what happens.”

MOVING INSIDE

For Giovanni Reviere, it’s all about getting bigger and stronger this spring. The 6-5 sophomore made the move from defensive end to defensive tackle prior to the Music City Bowl last season. And, the move will stick.

“They sent me a text saying you are gonna have to gain some weight,” said Reviere. “ 'We got you playing inside now.' I said, ‘You know what, I am gonna see how it goes.’ “

So far, so good. Reviere says he tips the scales at 265 pounds now but wants to weigh 280 by August. He has a lot of eating to do between now and then.

"Now, I am on a weight gain routine so I am eating more, getting more shakes and stuff just trying to get that weight up," he said.

Reviere began to flash year while playing on the edge. He started all 13 games and finished with 28 tackles, with 5.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks He hopes to improve those numbers as he gains traction at his new position.

“It’s progress,” said defensive line coach Reggie Johnson. “It’s moving forward. A big part of it for him was just embracing moving from being an edge guy to an interior guy. For him, now, it’s a matter of we need you to eat and get big … because he is still growing. He is doing good. Smart kid. He’s athletic. He is gonna be fine.”

COUNTRY STRONG

If you ever get the chance to shake hands with Purdue sophomore defensive tackle Jeff Marks, don’t do it. He’ll crush your hand.

The 6-3, 270-pound Marks is what Jeff Brohm likes to call “country strong.” But, honestly, Marks is just strong. Period. And it’s that strength—along with quickness—that makes Marks an intriguing player up front.

“We are gonna do some things with him,” said d-line coach Reggie Johnson. “Let’s see how much he can handle because right now he is working at the 3 (technique) and the nose. And obviously he played some edge for us last year and also played some 3 technique for us. He is a piece of clay, I guess you could say.”

With Lorenzo Neal out all spring recovering from knee surgery and Anthony Watts continuing to rebound from an injury that kept him out the last three practices, Marks is getting plenty of opportunity this spring to impress. And he has come a long way since last spring, when he arrived early from high school to take part in spring practice.

“Totally different now,” said Marks. “When I first got here, everything was moving fast, this and that. Now I have a routine … it just moves slower now.”

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