Today is the first day in our countdown with double players. We are starting to come to a close on our tight ends and defensive ends that we are covering. Our first player is a senior going into his final year with a chance to make a little noise with minimum playing time, if he works hard or someone gets hurt or is too gassed to go back in. Our second player is a sophomore reserve at tight end. Let's start with the older of the two.
Eric Mebane - Sr.
Hometown: Grand Prairie, Texas (Bowie HS)
Defensive End
6'3", 225
2012 projection: reserve at defensive end, possible contributor to special teams.
Mebane was a solid player in high school; ranking 3rd in the state of Texas for sacks his senior season. But he really hasn't done much since he joined the Boilermakers. But who can blame him with the success we've had at defensive end of the years. Mebane is also one of the few guys left on the team that were from Joe Tiller's final recruiting class.
Mebane was thought to be a dark-horse player once he came to Purdue. But after not playing his first two years and then only getting into a couple games this past season, the future really isn't looking bright for the guy. Hopefully Mebane will have some opportunities to get on the field this season and make his senior football season a memorable one.
Justin Sinz - So. (RS)
Hometown: Edgar, WI (Edgar)
Tight End
6'4", 242 pounds
2012 Projection: reserve at tight end, possible contributor on special teams
Sinz is coming into his sophomore hoping to get more playing time than last season. Sinz recorded 3 receptions for 25 yards last season, but with the depth we have at tight end, he may end up having a season similar to last years. Sinz is a big body who could be used for the field goal unit, and maybe on the goal line. However, with Crosby Wright, Gabe Holmes, and freshmen Carlos Carvajal, I don't see Sinz getting much time as a receiving tight end.
Both Justin Sinz and Eric Mebane are active on Twitter. Follow them at @JSinz84 (Sinz) & @Maybach_Mebane (Mebane).