More: Purdue training camp coverage

As recruiting in modern college football has developed into almost a sport unto itself, the importance of support staff has risen considerably.

In particular: The director of player personnel position.

At Purdue, the role is now occupied by Don Dunn, a veteran of more than four decades in coaching who most recently worked as new Boilermaker coach Jeff Brohm's defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

GoldandBlack.com caught up with the former Mississippi and Auburn assistant coach for this Q&A.

GoldandBlack.com: The player personnel job has become a critical one in college football and one that can take many forms. What is it at Purdue right now?

Dunn: "It's mainly about organizing the recruiting, everything from our mailing list to unofficial visits on campus, in the spring organizing and finalizing the coaches' travel when we can be out, getting transcripts, everything to do with recruiting, and watching a lot of film and evaluating (recruits) and our own players. It's a lot of hats, a new thing in the past five or six years in college football."