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The first two official injuries of training camp have sidelined players. Ruben Ibarra, who was a key reserve last season at linebacker, is out at least two weeks with a high ankle sprain. Given Purdue's lack of depth here this is not a good thing. Wide receiver Bilal Marshall, who recently moved from quarterback, also missed this morning's practice with a hip flexor. He should return relatively quickly, however.
Among the other key notes:
Three standout receivers - Purdue is still going to run a lot of three receiver sets even if there will be more two TE sets. Today coach Hazell said there have been three standouts:
#Purdue coach Darrell Hazell said three WRs who are standing out so far in camp: Macarthy, Anthrop and Knauf.
— GoldandBlack.com (@GoldandBlackcom) August 5, 2013
I find this very interesting because Gary Bush, the top returning receiver, is not among them. B.J. Knauf is speedy, but redshirted all of last year and Danny Anthrop had only one reception. Dolapo Macarthy is not a surprise except that he continues to rise after originally being a walk-on quarterback.
Left Side of the offensive line - I originally mentioned this as a massive question mark, but it looks like Kevin Pamphile and Devin Smith are playing well on the left side of the line. Both seniors were expected to be pushed by freshmen J.J. Prince and Jason King, but for now they are holding on:
Hazell likes how left side of OL is playing - G Devin Smith, T Kevin Pamphile. #Purdue
— mike carmin (@carminjc) August 5, 2013
Appleby making a move - In the quarterback derby coach Hazell mentioned that one of the three is struggling with the "language" of the offense, but did not say which one. An eyewitness report from The Black Hammer seems to think Austin Appleby is making a move:
@Gardner_247 @PURDUE_RANT @HammerAndRails Thanks for the notes, interested to see what Appleby does the rest of camp. Heard he's been nuts
— Chris Jewell (@BoilerCop) August 5, 2013
Will someone please return punts effectively? - Bush, Knauf, Akeem Hunt, and Frankie Williams were working on punt returns today. It is suicide to have Hunt out there as our only experienced tailback, so I don't think he gets the job, but it continues to be a revolving door. Ricardo Allen, David Yancey, Raheem Mostert, Normando Harris, and Anthony Brown have also been mentioned as possibles. At this point I am expecting to see Lewis Jackson, Dorien Bryant, Ariel Turner, Leroy Keyes, and the ghost of John Wooden get a shot.