A slightly-less-mundane-than-usual Thursday, today marks the final day of May as well as 93 days until the kickoff of Purdue's 2012 football campaign. While it may still seem like an eternity before that date actually arrives, it is somewhat hard to believe that Slandrey and I have been working the countdown for just about a week now.
Seems like yesterday I was writing my first countdown post about Ryan Russell (Oh, wait, it practically was!), a wonderful lad who is a nearly surefire up-and-comer for the Boilermaker football team. On the flip side of the Russell article--being that today marks 93 days until kickoff--I feel very lucky that my current assignment looks at a player who has already cemented himself firmly in Purdue Football lore.
Without further ado, before I begin to salivate profusely for the distant, yet impending arrival of another Purdue football season, it is my pleasure to introduce the offspring of a bulldozer and a battering ram, Mr. Kawann Short.
Kawann Short - Sr. (RS)
Hometown: East Chicago, IN (East Chicago Central HS)
Defensive Tackle
6'3", 310 pounts
2012 projection: Starter at Defensive Tackle
The 2012 football season is sure to be Kawann's last in West Lafayette. The big man is expected to be a very high profile NFL draftee come next April, and due to his many astounding attributes (which, among other things, includes size, strength, intelligent and a downright ferocious nature on the gridiron), some draft analysts--like the folks over at Bleacher Report--claim Short will be a top 15 overall pick in 2013. So, while plenty of football fans within Boiler Nation will be very sad to see #93 leave Purdue after this coming season, Kawann is looking to have a bright future in professional football and his best season for the Boilermakers yet, which is saying a lot; the freak of nature has recorded 12.5 sacks and has been selected to the Big Ten All-Conference team in each of the past two seasons.
This year, look for Short to have an incredible senior campaign as he once again anchors the middle of the Boilers' defensive front and takes on another round of Defensive Captain responsibilities. Without a doubt, #93 is a legitimate contender for the 2012 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award and the numbers he is sure to put up this fall will make that and many other accolades a reality for the big guy. Barring injury, Kawann is expected to have an absolutely "lights out" final season at Purdue.
Follow Kawann Short on Twitter at @kk_mr93.