8 Days to Purdue Football: Markell Jones and Tim Cason

Today we have a pair of freshmen who could be quality reserves this season before  becoming starters later in their careers.

Markell Jones - Fr.

Columbus, IN (Columbus East HS)

5'11" 207 pounds

Running Back

2015 Projection: Contributor at Running back

If you played NCAA Football on Playstation and put up the numbers that Jones put up last season in his final year of high school the computer would flag you for cheating. Let's put it this way: Mike Alstott holds the career rushing record with 3,635 yards. Jones was only 70 yards short of that total last season FOR THE YEAR. In fact, he often did not play in the second half of games because his team was so far ahead. He had 60 TDs and even threw a pair of touchdown passes.

This year Jones is one of three very talented running backs that will hopefully move the football with regularity and keep the offense on the field. He is projected to play immediately as the top backup to starter D.J. Knox. He also enters as Indiana's Mr. Football after a career that saw him gain almost 8,000 yards and score over 120 touchdowns. It was a ridiculously productive HS career that included a state championship and numerous records including:

• 360 points scored as the 4^th best single-season in state history
• 774 career points as the 4^th best in state history
• The 3,565 yards last year was a new single-season state record
• His 7,930 yards rushing in his career is 2^nd in state history and just 180 behind the state record, which he would have broken had his team reached the state finals.

Tim Cason - Fr. (RS)

Clarkston, MI (Clarkston HS)

5'11", 189 pounds

Safety

2015 Projection: Contributor on Special Teams/at Safety

As we approach the season Cason is poised to make an impact. In the latest depth chart he was listed as backing up Leroy Clark at strong safety, which is a position of need for the Boilers.  In high school he was a three-star commit, but redshirted last season as Purdue had depth at the position. That year may have paid off as he is expected to contribute this year as solid depth at minimum.