Young shines in camp, jersey scrimmage; Purdue notes

More from scrimmage: Analysis ($) | Hazell's thoughts

Domonique Young wants to be a reliable big-time receiver for the Boilermakers.

He told teammates about it during his senior speech in camp, an opportunity given to players to tell about their backgrounds, goals, heroes and more.

His really hit home with quarterback David Blough.

“Domo had a really tough upbringing. He’s had a lot of people in his life …,” Blough said, not finishing the thought. “It made me kind of realize how much he’s been through to be where he is and this is his second chance. Purdue got him out of where he came from, Compton and a JUCO. And Purdue gave him that opportunity and he’s forever grateful for that, and that’s why he works the way he does.”

That work is paying huge dividends now. After a bad spring in which Young couldn’t consistently hold on to the ball, the senior receiver has done a 180. He’s been great during camp, catching the easy ones and the contested, and being the kind of passing-game threat he's desired.

It culminated in the jersey scrimmage Saturday, when he had two touchdown receptions among his three catches that totaled 32 yards.

“I have more to prove this year,” said Young, who had 21 receptions last season, his first after transferring from Cerritos College. “I didn’t have a great year last year, so I think I have a lot more, especially with this being my last year too, to go out and show that I can be a Big Ten receiver and hopefully can further my career.

“(My confidence) is at a pretty good level, pretty comfortable with where it’s at. It’s not cockiness, or too low, right where it needs to be.”

It was way off, though, in the spring. Then, it looked like Young was fighting himself, unable to bring in even the simplest of passes with regularity. It was worrisome, because Young’s development was imperative to the Boilermakers’ passing game reaching its potential.

Now, though, Blough feels comfortable throwing anything up in Young’s direction.

“He’ll go dunk on ‘em,” he said of the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Young. “I’m confident that if I throw it up to Domo, we’re catching it or nobody’s catching it.

“If you look at him pound-for-pound, he might be the strongest guy on our team. I’d bet on him in a race. He looks like a man. And that’s what we need out there, (No.) 1 to take some pressure off DeAngelo (Yancey) on the other side and 1 to go make plays like he is.

“In his senior speech, he talked about how he wanted to be a reliable big-time guy, so on third-and-long that’s who we can go to. That’s the work he’s put in. He knows it’s coming to him, we trust him and he really stretching the field for us. … He’s been great this camp.”

If Cameron Cermin was going to make move toward reclaiming a starting spot on the offensive line, Saturday was the day.

It was the biggest evaluation period of camp, one he knew he needed to take advantage of after floundering a bit following his offseason shoulder surgery.

The fifth-year senior thinks he delivered.

“They’ve been begging everybody who has played right tackle for someone to take control of the job,” said Cermin, a former starter who has watched as Matt McCann and Jalen Neal have gotten a majority of the first-team opportunities. “Begging. Absolutely begging someone to step up. And I think someone did today.”

Good timing. But it’s a performance that has likely been building, if Cermin’s prior history is an indication. The 6-5, 323-pounder is a 17-game starter, having started 10 games at right tackle and two at left last season.

But Cermin was nicked up by the end of the year, not only having an ankle injury but shoulder problems, too. And he needed surgery on the left, forcing him to miss spring practices.

Despite having physically rehabbed, camp didn’t start well. Cermin was with the 2s, but at left tackle, not even competing on the right side. Instead, McCann and Neal split snaps.

And Cermin was hesitant at times in his repetitions, not wanting to strike with his hands as hard as what is needed. At one point, line coach Darrell Funk yelled at him during a drill “You want your job back? Use your hands!”

Saturday, Cermin did, while getting snaps at left — starter Martesse Patterson's role was limited — and right.

“(Before), I would psych myself out of it, saying ‘OK, don’t screw up too bad and you can’t do this, this, this and this,’” Cermin said. “And it’s more about talking to yourself about what you’re going to do and how you’re dong to do it. And then go out there and do it and not think about all the bad things that can happen.”

Some time off recently helped Cermin regroup. On Wednesday, he got a little overheated during the second of Purdue’s two-a-day, suffering from dehydration and cramping. Hazell gave Cermin Thursday off, allowing him to stay off to the side in street clothes.

He came back strong on Saturday.

“He’s got to be a guy who can help us in the depth at that tackle position,” Hazell said. “He’s got to be able to go left and right once we set the depth chart.”

Cermin thinks he can still win the starting right tackle job.

“It’s going to be on us,” he said. “They won’t solidify (the starters) until they’re ready to name someone. That’s how it’s going to be.”

• Hazell says Purdue will make personnel decisions on Monday, after reviewing film on the scrimmage.

That includes several key spots: Right tackle, cornerback and safety among the first-team and likely more on the second unit.

“We’ll make personnel decisions on Monday on just about very position,” he said, “and try to lock in the lineup, so we can practice those last six or seven practice with the No. 1 guys.”

Quarterback is included in the group too, although it’s pretty obviously Blough.

“We’ll make that decision on Monday,” Hazell said. “We’ll make an announcement on Monday.”

• The Boilermakers spent about half an hour practicing in a heavy downpour in Ross-Ade Stadium.

Hazell thought it was good for them. Aside from a fumble from Richie Worship, the offense kept hold of the ball.

“I think it’s good that we got some wet weather,” the fourth-year coach said. “We can’t had any all fall and just to be able to handle the ball in those elements, it’s something we’re going to have to do.”

• Purdue seemed to come through the scrimmage in relative good health.

Only Eddy Wilson is a concern, after the defensive tackle appeared to injury his lower left leg toward the end of practice. He walked off under his own power, however. Hazell didn’t have details yet immediately afterward.

Linebacker Jimmy Herman appeared to injure a shoulder — a concern considering he’s had trouble in the past — but he returned to action shortly thereafter.

Safety Jacob Thieneman might have a concussion, after absorbing a big hit while trying to make a tackle. He had to come to the sideline and did not return.

• Four players played only one series: Yancey, Markell Jones, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jake Replogle.

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