Purdue lands commitment from running back target Antwuan Branch
Listen ($): Antwuan Branch of his decision | More: Purdue commitments
One of Purdue's top offensive targets for the 2017 class, Antwuan Branch might have been sold on the Boilermakers at first glance, basically.
It culminated in the 6-foot, 200-pound running back committing on Friday.
"When I took my first visit there, I felt very, very comfortable and my mom felt comfortable," Branch said of his visit back in May. "I knew then it was going to be a hard place to compete with vs. other schools, but I still wanted to see what everybody else had to offer. But the more places I went, the more I knew Purdue was just the place for me."
Purdue won out an early offer from Vanderbilt, as well as offers from Western Kentucky, East Carolina, Yale, Old Dominion and others, along with interest from North Carolina State.
"It was the best place for me," Branch said. "I had to make a 40-year decision and not a four-year decision."
Purdue will get the four-year end of it, though, and hope Branch can impact its backfield with his aggressive demeanor, which he used to rush for nearly 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns last season for Kenwood High School in Clarksville, Tenn.
He didn't play running back until last season. Before that, the Rivals.com three-star prospect was a linebacker.
"I'm playing offense as a running back with a defensive mindset," Branch said of his aggressive nature.
"Coach (DeAndre) Smith said he's planning on me coming in playing from the (beginning) ... They have different types of backs and I feel like I can be more of the down-hill back, sometimes you can throw me in the backfield and sometimes use me in the slot and in terms of blocking and things like that, I just feel like I can be that complete back."
Branch joins quarterbacks Nick Sipe and Griffin Alstott, defensive end Tijaun Mason and DB Mitch West as Purdue's 2017 commitments.
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