39 Days To Purdue Football: Joe Gilliam and Devin Hill

I have been excited to see Joe Gilliam get to the field. I think he is a player that will benefit greatly from being redshirted. He is one of two players featured today that will be a newcomer on the field this year.

Joe Gilliam - Fr. (RS)

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN (Southport HS)

Linebacker

6'1", 211 pounds

2011 projection: Reserve at linebacker, Special Teams contributor

Gilliam was part of a renaissance at Southport High School. During his junior season the Cardinals went 9-2, won Conference Indiana, and reached the second round of the sectional. That may not seem like much, but before that season they had won 10 games total in the past seven seasons, and only three int he past four. His crew helped Southport come out of nowhere. He was also a high school classmate of Purdue baseball's Cameron Perkins. Gilliam amassed 80, 96, and 90 tackles in his last three seasons at the high school level to help Southport make that jump. According to Indy Sports Nation, he is the first Southport player in 20 years to move on to Division 1.

Devin Hill- Fr.

Hometown: Columbus, OH (Northland HS)

Running back

5'10", 228 pounds

2011 projection: Likely Redshirt

We got Jared Sullinger('s high school classmate)! Yes, Devin Hill went tot he same school as the Ohio State basketball phenom. At Northland he was a running back and linebacker that had a decent rating, but chose to walk on at Purdue. The limited statistics I found on him had 210 yards rushing and four touchdowns in  six games of the 2009 season. It is pretty safe to say he will redshirt this year, but with his size I would not discount him seeing the field at fullback eventually.

Boilermakings Notes:

College Football 77 in 77: #61 Purdue Boilermakers
It seems weird to not list any WRs or QBs in the BMOCs when previewing Purdue, a school known as the cradle of quarterbacks and during the apex of Joe Tiller's reign basketball on grass. Don't expect anything exciting and fun like that in 2011.

Hart, Hummel updates | Purdue Insider blog | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
An update on John Hart and Robbie Hummel, two players with similar injury luck.

Boiled Sports: Molto Bravo! Smooge to Italy (and gumbo)
Hat tip to Boiled Sports for finding that Smooge is headed to Italy. Good luck, young man!

Second-Annual Military Appreciation Day
For its 2011 football season opener, Purdue Athletics would like to honor members of the military and their families by providing as many donated tickets as possible for these individuals to attend the game.

Things I Will Not Ask At Big Ten Football Media Days - Maize n Brew
Things I Will Not Ask At Big Ten Football Media Days

Critical Story Lines for Big Ten Football Media Days - Maize n Brew
Critical Story Lines for Big Ten Football Media Days

Boilers Announce Future Football Schedule Changes
Purdue athletics director Morgan Burke has announced changes to the future football schedules in regards to Marshall and Cincinnati.