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Complete camp coverage: 2017 football primer

Purdue had one of its shortest practices of training camp so far Friday, the day before its first scrimmage of the fall. The Boilermakers practiced for less than two hours under overcast skies.

• Jeff Brohm still is waiting for final word on whether a couple players will be academic eligible this fall. He'd hoped to have heard that news on Wednesday but didn't.

"I’m wanting (the answer) as fast as I can because we’re basically not allowing certain guys to practice as much as they normally would because of it," Brohm said after practice.

Though Brohm wouldn't speak about specific players who could be affected, cornerback Tim Cason was projected to be a first-team cornerback by Brohm entering camp after starting seven games last season at that spot but has spent the first seven practices off the two-deep. Earlier in camp, Brohm mentioned "academics" as it related to Cason. Also, senior Antoine Miles got the majority of first-team snaps at one defensive end spot in the spring but hasn't in camp, so he could be another player Brohm is waiting to get final word on.

• Graduate transfer T.J. McCollum has been getting first-team snaps at linebacker, Brohm said Friday. Early in camp, McCollum said he expected to be a starter by Week 1. But McCollum's apparent rise doesn't necessarily mean Ja'Whaun Bentley, Markus Bailey or Danny Ezechukwu were pushed to the sidelines.

"All four of those guys have a lot of experience, and all four need to be on the field. We have multiple ways to get them all four on the field," Brohm said, "and other ways to give them a break as well. Without question, they’ve been getting plenty of reps with the 1s."

It's possible Purdue could use Bailey's versatility and slide him into the outside linebacker role — he'd been working some there early in camp, as well as his preferred inside/weakside linebacker spot — and move Ezechukwu to the hybrid "Leo" position. Sophomore transfer Kai Higgins was working with the 1s at that Leo/defensive end spot early in camp.

• Purdue will have a closed scrimmage Saturday. Brohm said the players won't have any scripted offensive plays, partially because he wants to see how they respond in game-like situations.

"Our guys will have to be able to get the signal, get the call, get lined up and know what to do and maybe not have the coaches on the field and around them as much helping them out," Brohm said. "We have to see what they know, what they can function with and how much they can handle."

The scrimmage also will start off "live," meaning tackling will be allowed, before shifting likely midway through to a "thud" tempo.

"We do want to get enough live tackle in that our guys are used to tackling in open space in a game situation. I think that’ll be important," Brohm said.

Brohm said the scrimmage will have "a lot" of plays, and it'll include reps for not only the first- and second-team units but also a significant amount for third-team personnel, maybe more than 1s and 2s.

• David Blough has been running mostly with the 1s at quarterback, but Brohm said backup Elijah Sindelar has gotten some 1 reps, as has Jared Sparks, though Sparks' have been more in a specific package.

"I feel good they’re both improving, but they’re putting pressure on each other," Brohm said, referencing the top two. "Both guys have done a good job, but Elijah has done very well."

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