We enter the last five days of the countdown with the campus buzzing about this coming Saturday, people throwing together breakfast club costumes, and everyone making their final predictions of what this season could bring for the Boilermakers. With multiple starters returning on both sides of the ball, throwing in a 3-4 defense, and the fact that both Penn State and Ohio State are ineligible for post-season games, I think we can win the Leaders division this season as well as get to another bowl game. Our main competition in the division will be Wisconsin. They're going to be tough, but thankfully The Badgers are coming to West Lafayette this year. It's going to be a fun and interesting season for the Boilers and I can't wait for Saturday to get here.
Today's featured player has been around for a few years, yet has never found his niche with this team. He came to Purdue as a defensive end, but was then switched to a linebacker and has still not been able to make an impact on this team. After being passed on by so many other people, it's hard to tell how Higgs will respond this season as the backup to Dwayne Beckford.
Antwon Higgs - Sr.
Hometown: Pompano Beach, FL (Pompano Beach HS)
Linebacker
6'3", 246 pounds
2012 Projection: Contributor at linebacker
Higgs came to Purdue in the spring of 2009 and had a solid spring game where he recorded 9 tackles and a sack. However, his spring game never transitioned to the regular season and Higgs has played in only a handful of games since then; recording only 3 tackles while appearing in 7 games over the past two season.
With our transition to the 3-4 defense and our depth issues at linebacker, this could definitely be the year where Higgs records more playing time and can actually contribute. But I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Hope go to younger guys Joe Gilliam and Armstead Williams before Higgs since he's already had opportunities to prove himself.
Look for Higgs to try and take a position as a contributor in either the 3-4 or 4-3 defenses. But if he can't, Higgs may lose his playing time to younger, more eager guys on the team.