WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -Purdue is excited about new quarterback Robert Marve, and nearly as thrilled with the players he’ll be throwing to.
Marve, a transfer from Miami, said Friday that this is the best group of receivers he has been around.
Keith Smith leads the returnees after catching 91 passes, the third-best single-season total in school history, for 1,100 yards last season.
“That’s over with and done with,” Smith said. “It happened, but this is an entirely different team, an entirely different group of people that I’m around and a different group of teams that we’re going to play. Now, it’s onto this upcoming season.”
Smith already has left an impression on Marve. Instead of being content with last year’s success, Smith became leaner and faster in the offseason, adding improved physical skills to his smarts.
“He’s a special guy because he’s a quarterback in the receiver position,” Marve said. “He can read coverages, he knows the game and he’s proven himself.”
ight end Kyle Adams caught 29 passes last year. Keith Carlos, who has moved to running back, caught 21 passes in 2009. Cortez Smith, a projected starter, caught 17. Justin Siller, who has moved from quarterback to wide receiver, is one of the team’s most athletic players and is listed as a starter.
“He’s a natural talent,” Marve said of Siller. “He can catch, he can run, and he played quarterback. When you’ve got guys who have played quarterback, they know what’s going on.”
Coach Danny Hope said Siller is learning his new position quickly.
“He’s getting a lot better,” Hope said. “If you just went out there, didn’t have any plays called, and drew it up in the dirt and played sandlot football, he’s unbelievable. Any time you’re teaching a guy a position, that can muddy the water a little bit. Over a period of time, he’ll become much more polished. He has big play ability, and he gets better every time he steps on the practice field.”
Keith Smith said he, Siller and Cortez Smith form the “thunder package.” Keith Smith is 6-foot-2 and 226 pounds, Siller is 6-4 and 220 pounds,and Cortez Smith is 6-2 and 180 pounds.
“We all have great size, good speed, and we’ll be able to outmuscle some guys,” Keith Smith said.
Then, there’s the lightning package, with speedsters O.J. Ross, Antavian Edison and Gary Bush.
of my hand as fast as possible and let those guys do their thing.”
Hope also expects running back Al-Terek McBurse to be a receiving threat. McBurse, who averaged 24.6 yards on 19 kickoff returns last season, will likely start because last year’s breakout star, Ralph Bolden, tore the ACL in his right knee in March and had surgery in May.
“He’s fast, he makes people miss, he catches the ball great,” Hope said of McBurse. “He’ll take some pride in being a starter. He is a player, and he will rise to the occasion.”
Marve is the guy who makes it all go. He took over as the starting quarterback at Miami in the second game of the 2008 season. He made 11 consecutive starts and helped guide Miami to five straight wins from Oct. 11 to Nov. 13. He threw for 1,293 yards and nine touchdowns that season, but he was held out of the Emerald Bowl as a punishment for missing class.
Jacory Harris started in the 24-17 loss to California. Harris was selected the starter entering 2009, and on Dec. 30, Marve told The Associated Press he was leaving Miami.
Marve recovered from an ACL injury and has quickly earned the respect of his receivers.
“He’s a great player,” Smith said. “He’s elusive in the backfield, he can step up and throw the ball. He can throw any ball on the field, no matter where you are. He’s a great leader for us. He’s been that all-around guy that we needed back there.”
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