More ($): Purdue targets nearing decisions

Several established Purdue recruiting targets were among the 200-plus high school football players who crowded the Mollenkopf Athletic Center Saturday afternoon for the program's first summer camp under its first-year coaching staff.

Previously offered defensive backs Vincent Gray and Byron Perkins and offensive lineman Will Bramel were among the prospects Jeff Brohm and his staff have already seen enough of to have offered scholarships but didn't mind having back on campus for some additional face time.

It was mutual.

"I just wanted to see how they coach," said Gray, who counts Purdue among his 20-plus offers and was making his third visit to West Lafayette since its junior day during spring ball. "That's why I came to the camp to work out, to get a feel for how they are as coaches, because they're going to be my coaches for four years if I choose to come here. I wanted to see how they are as coaches.

"I liked it. They push you hard. I feel like I could definitely get better here and that means a lot. I definitely want to go somewhere I can improve and get better."

Gray was one of two clear defensive back targets at the camp, joining Chicago's Perkins in standing out against the field due to the supreme height that largely drew Purdue to them in recruiting.

Perkins holds an offer, too.

"Regardless of whether a school offers you or not, it's a decent thing to do to come and see how the coaches coach, get used to the scheme and the program," said Perkins, who was also making a third visit to Purdue since the spring. "They're very competitive.

"Coach (Derrick Jackson) and Coach (JaMarcus Shephard) are always bumping heads. I really like the competitiveness the coaches show in trying to make the players better."

Purdue's staff's Kentucky ties drew a sizeable turnout from the Bluegrass State, including Bramel.

"I thought I did well today," said Bramel, a tackle. "You can always get better, but it was awesome to work with Coach (Dale) Williams and see what he teaches his players. I can use some of those tools and tips when I go back to my high school."

Quarterback Drew Zaubi of Kentucky's South Oldham High School has been seen by Purdue's coaches at camps before and wanted to be seen again now that they've moved north.

"I wanted to come to camp because I'm definitely interested in Purdue and I really like the Brohms and the staff," Zaubi said. "Brian (Brohm) is actually a childhood idol of mine from when he was at (Louisville) and I know they put their quarterback at WKU (Brandon Doughty) in the League, and I feel like Purdue would be a great chance to get to the NFL with the Brohms."

Saturday's camp — the first of three "prospect" camps Purdue will hold, the others being June 12 and July 21 — was strategically scheduled early in the month in hopes of landing on a date where little else was going on on the camp scene. New NCAA rules limit staffs to a total of just 10 camp days, on campus or off.

The June 3 booking factored into at least one prospect's decision to attend.

"I just figured it was an early camp I could get some exposure from," said Ohio defensive tackle Elijah Ratliff, who holds early MAC offers and is fielding interest from Michigan State and Pitt, among others, "and I've really wanted to work on some stuff before I go into some other camps."

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