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There are now three weeks to go until kickoff and the first player today is expected to have a bigger impact in 2015 after getting his first action in 2014.
Gregory Phillips - So.
Lithonia, GA (Arabia Mountain HS)
6', 191 pounds
Wide Receiver
2015 Projection: Contributor at Wide Receiver
Phillips impressed many by seeing the field as a true freshman in 2014. He ended up playing in 12 games, but was rushed into two starts late in the season because of injuries to B.J. Knauf and Danny Anthrop, as well as the ineffectiveness of Cameron Posey and DeAngelo Yancey. He finished the year with 10 receptions for 151 yards.
At times Phillips was able to use his speed for a big play. His first catch went for 29 yards in the opener against Western Michigan. He also had 4 catches for 69 yards against Northwestern.
Phillips should play quite a bit in 2015 as Purdue looks for solutions at receiver. How much he plays will be determined by how well he can get separation from defenders.
David Rose - Fr.
Temple Hills, Md. (Potomac HS)
6' 175 pounds
Cornerback
2015 Projection: Likely redshirt
With the depth Purdue has at corner plus the development of players like Evyn Cooper it likely means that Rose is headed for a redshirt year. Rose was a 3-star recruit that played both cornerback and receiver in high school for a team that won a state championship. He reportedly has a high football IQ, which could benefit him as he redshirts:
Put simply, Purdue needs an influx of football smarts in its defensive backfield. That is what it is getting in Rose. A one-time commit to Toledo, Rose has a high football IQ with some skills to match.
Rose played both cornerback and wide receiver at Potomac High School. He does a great job at establishing positioning on the receiver then turning back to track the ball to make a play. It is interesting to watch Rose after the snap as he watches the quarterback initially, then switches his eyes to the receiver in anticipation of a pass. Diagnosing plays effectively by watching the quarterback is a skill seldom seen at the high school level.