The biggest news around the football program right now is, of course, that Patrick Bade is headed across the street to join the gridiron squad. He likely projects as a tight end, and one of his top competitors at the position is today's featured player.
Gabe Holmes - So.
Hometown: Miramar, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Tight End
6'4", 224 pounds
2011 Projection: Contributor at tight end
I like Holmes as a prospect. He comes from a solid high school program in St. Thomas Aquinas that won a mythical National Championship during his senior season. He faced off against current teammate Will Lucas in the 2008 state championship game, but because of an eligibility issue Holmes wasn't able to enroll until the spring of 2010. He came in with freshman eligibility last year, very similar to Dwayne Beckford.
As a true freshman last season Holmes saw action in all 12 games, but caught just one pass for 14 yards. He also notched a tackle either on special teams or after a turnover. Statistically that isn't but, but the experience of playing in 12 games could prove to be very valuable this year. He comes off as more fo a receiving tight end than a blocking tight end. Last year he often lined up in the slot a lot like Dustin Keller used to for us. I think Holmes has the potential to be another Keller-type as a receiver, and I would love for us to get him the ball more now that Kyle Adams is gone.
Holmes father was a long jumper at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. That means Holmes has some good genes, and they showed by his high school numbers. He had 18 catches for 480 yards and three touchdowns for the national Championship team. He missed three games with a thigh injury, but he was also a pretty good basketball player too. He was good enough that he played on the same AAU team as Gary Bush down in South Florida.
Boilermakings Notes:
GoldandBlack.com - Wilson transferring
Women's basketball loses a player to transfer.
Purdue Boilermakers' Patrick Bade switching from basketball to football - ESPN
Patrick Bade has switched from the Purdue men's basketball program to the school's football program. So place bets: will Patrick Bade start more NFL games than Terrelle Pryor?
Purdue player switches allegiances to football - CBSSports.com
The expert at CBS Matt Norlander is a day light on exactly everything I said last night about Patrick Bade.