12/20/2017 football Edit

Purdue signee quotebook

Kyle Charters • BoilerUpload

Staff Writer

@KyleCharters79

More: Early class targeted key areas | Notebook | Takeaways ($)

Following are Jeff Brohm's comments about each of Purdue's 22 early signing day commitments for 2018:

LB • 6-1 • 240

River Grove, Ill. / Hoffman Estates

Brohm: "He came to our camp and we offered him right then. He has athletic ability, plays a lot of positions on his high school team. He has versatility, he can run. He loves football and we like his linebacking skills. Without question, we like Jaylan Alexander."

OL • 6-3 • 290

Louisvill, Ky. / Doss

Brohm: "Charles Allen is an interior offensive lineman who has size and strength. I think he can play a center or guard position for us. He has some toughness. He played on a solid football team and I think he'll be a solid football player for us."

WR • 5-11 • 175

Staten Island, N.Y. / Curtis

Brohm: "He won the state championship. He has some dynamic play-making ability, speed, good hands, good route-running. He's a pretty polished receiver right now as it is. I think if we get him here and get him stronger in the weight room, he has a chance to play for us early."

RB • 6-1 • 200

Suwanee, Ga. / Collins Hill

Brohm: "He has good size. He has a good build to him and looks the part. He'll continue to get even bigger and stronger. He's a durable running back and I think he's just a solid football player."

DB • 6-1• 200

Indianapolis / Ben Davis

Brohm: "Elijah Ball is an instate defensive back who we see as a cornerback, but their team moved him to safety, so he's able to play both positions. He has good makeup, he's a competitor, he doesn't come off the field. He works extremely hard. When you go see him in school or talk to his coaches, he's a guy of all of them that they have at Ben Davis has worked his tail off even past the season, so we like his work ethic. I think he'll come in and compete for a spot."

WR • 6-2 • 195

Carrollton, Ga. / Carrollton

Brohm: "Jordan Bonner is a bigger, physical receiver who I think has a lot of potential. Do I see him quite ready right this second? Maybe not. But I think he has play-making skills, he has some strength to him. He was a little nicked up this year, but I think he'll recover from that and be a guy that will compete for a spot also this first year and do a good job for us."

OL • 6-6 • 280

Danville, Ky. / Boyle County

Brohm: "His team won the state championship. He's already 6-6, 280 and will get a lot bigger. He has good athleticism, has good feet. He's actually even more physical than you even think with that size, but I think he loves football. He'll compete. It's always hard for an offensive lineman to play the first year, but I think he'll come in and compete, add some competition."

DL • 6-5 • 225

Cincinnati / Madeira

Brohm: "Jack Cravaack is a guy who really can play both positions, defensive end or tight end. We're going to put him at the defensive end position to start off with. Think he's versatile, a good basketball player. He's going to have to gain some strength but he's athletic and I think he has a lot of range and I think he can, because of his toughness and overall competitiveness, he'll be a durable guy for us and be a solid player."

DL • 6-3 • 255

Indianapolis / Lawrence Central

Brohm: "Branson Deen is an instate defensive lineman who did a very good job. He's had a very productive year. He has quickness at his spot, has the ability to rush the passer, he can probably grow to play both positions and be very versatile and be able to use his athleticism on interior guys too if we need to move him in there on occasion. His versatility and quickness will be an asset for him and I think he'll be a very productive player for us."

T • 6-5 • 260

Suwanee, Ga. / Peachtree Ridge

Brohm: "I just think he's a physical imposing body who has a lot of upside. He's very big as it is, probably over 260 right now, but he's just a strong athlete who can do a lot of things."

DL • 6-4 • 300

Fort Wayne, Ind. / Snider

Brohm: "Lawrence Johnson is an instate defensive lineman who plays all three sports. He has more athleticism than you think, weighing 300 pounds. I think he's a guy who if we just get him in great physical shape, he has a chance to be a very good player. Somewhat like Lorenzo Neal is how we see him, a guy who can come in and occupy space and have enough athleticism to beat blocks and quickness to get around them. Him getting in great physical condition, he could have a chance to be a very, very good player for us."

DL • 6-3 • 255

Mobile, Ala. / Davidson

Brohm: "Jeff Marks is really a gentleman we somewhat found late. We knew about him but it wasn't until we got a chance to get on the road in December and get in front of him and get a chance to meet him did his stock really rise with us. He's a country-strong young man. He's one guy when you shake his hand, the second time around you're going to put it behind your back and pat him with the other hand. He's naturally going to break it. He's got a grip that's like no other, is really strong, and can play some defensive end position, can probably grow into playing both. You can move him around. He loves the game, is a great student. In his school, all they do is say great things about him. He can enroll early, so we think he's an under-the-radar that has a chance to be a very, very good player."

OL • 6-5 • 275

Avon, Ohio / Avon

Brohm: "Jimmy McKenna is an offensive lineman who was recruited very hard by a lot of schools and we found a way to get him. I think he has athleticism, he has some toughness, he has versatility. He's a guy that probably could play both spots for us if we needed him to, but he definitely has the height to play offensive tackle. We really like Jimmy McKenna."

OL • 6-7 • 270

Mason, Ohio / William Mason

Brohm: "Eric Miller is an even taller offensive lineman that we see as an offensive tackle. He came to our camp and we offered him right after that. He plays basketball, has versatility, has good feet. He's going to continue to get even bigger and stronger, but I like his ability to move and change direction and bend, and I think he'll be a very good player."

DB • 6-2 • 185

Chicago / De La Salle

Brohm: "Byron Perkins is a tall cornerback for us. I think he's got range. He came to our camp and we liked him there, he did a good job with him. His ability to understand defense, but his range is definitely something that stands out and I think he'll do a good job for us. He needs to gain some strength but he definitely has the body you're looking for."

QB • 6-5 • 220

Gilbert, Ariz. / Gilbert

Brohm: "He was our No. 1 quarterback and we were fortunate to get him. I think he's a competitor and he has all the tools you're looking for. He's grounded. His mental and physical attributes are what we're looking for in a quarterback and I think he can come in and compete, do a tremendous job for us."

DB • 6-0 • 190

Denton, Texas / Ryan

Brohm: "Jordan Rucker is a corner/safety. I think their team won the state championship. He had a productive year. We had him on a visit during the season and we like his makeup, he has a lot of versatility, already has some good strength to him. He definitely can compete for a spot the first year."

DB • 6-0 • 195

Taylorsville, Ky. / Spencer County

Brohm: "To us, he's an under-the-radar defensive back. He came to our camp, did an outstanding job and boom we offered him and in my opinion we were lucky to get him that early. He got on board. A terrific young man with a great family. He plays at a school that normally is not traditionally known for having outstanding football but he carried the team. He played running back, he played defensive back, but he did a great job at our camp. He can run and hit and make plays and he's very versatile.

"He may need to gain a little bit of strength but he's a very solid football player that I think will be productive."

DL • 6-3 • 250

Millbrook, Ala. / Stanhope Elmore

Brohm: "KJ Stokes is a defensive end out of Alabama who came up this summer and visited with us. He's got a great family. He once again has a little versatility to move both ways outside and inside, use his athleticism. Depending on how big he gets, we'll see, but I do like KJ Stokes."

DL • 6-5 • 255

Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield East

Brohm: "He's more of a rangier defensive end that we recruited. I think that he's got the ability to grow into a very big body. He's strong, he likes football, got a little bit injured toward the end of the year, which he's recovered from that. So it may take him a little while to get into the flow, but we think he can be a solid football player who plays tough and physical and can continue to get bigger."

WR • 6-5 • 200

Hilliard, Ohio / Bradley

Brohm: "We were looking for a tall receiver with some real height. Kory Taylor is 6-5 if not taller. He came to our Indiana game, a very smart young man. He plays basketball, runs track, 100-meter and 200-meter. He runs very well for his size.

"As you guys know, having a tall receiver the last two games really helped us. I think his versatility, his height, his physical makeup is exactly what we're looking for. We think he can be a special player for us as long as we keep him on track, keep him healthy and get him stronger. He's a very intriguing prospect with a lot of potential."

DB • 6-3 • 195

Hopkinsville, Ky. / Christian County

Brohm: "He's got a body that's going to continue to grow and get bigger. You wouldn't think he's 195 now but he does and he's probably going to get 210 to 220 very fast. He's got unbelievable range, the same high school as KeyRon Catlett and Kenneth Major, a great young man, a great family. When he fills out, he's going to be one of the first guys we let off the bus because he looks like a safety should look. He's a good athlete as well. He can be a productive player."

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