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Antoine Miles, a fifth-year senior, has been preaching to Purdue's young defensive linemen this spring to stay focused, keep pushing, keep believing and keep frustration at bay, even if they’re seemingly stuck in a position they don’t want to be in.

“It’s going to be OK,” he tells them. “Just continue to work. It’s going to be fine.”

Miles is a good motivator in that way, has all the words that hit home.

That’s because he’s had practice: They’re the same ones he was preaching to himself last season.

Only one year after making six starts, the defensive end was relegated to watching from the sidelines on game days last season, being on the scout team in practices, in 2016.