Dec. 22, 2005

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue football coach Joe Tiller today announced the signing of seven junior college student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent. All seven will begin at Purdue with the start of the second semester Jan. 9 and participate in spring practice, which is scheduled to begin April 5.

The newcomers consist of three defensive ends, two defensive backs, one running back and one punter. Four come from California junior colleges, two from Illinois and one from Texas.

"We feel we addressed positions where we have immediate needs," Tiller said. "All of these guys are expected to come in and compete for starting positions right away."

Per NCAA rule, high school student-athletes who plan mid-year college enrollment do not sign a tender until the first day of second-semester class.

Tiller anticipates signing 20 additional student-athletes to complete the Boilermakers' 2006 recruiting class.

2005 Purdue Football Mid-Year Recruits

2005 Purdue Football Mid-Year Recruit Biographies

Jared Armstrong, P, 6-3, 235, Gilberts, Ill. (Harper College)
Named first team NJCAA All-American, first team all-area and first team All-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference after averaging NJCAA-best 43.7 yards per punt (43 punts for 1,881 yards, long of 68 yards) last season ... also handled kicking duties and made 7 of 12 field goals (long of 38 yards) and 31 of 33 PAT attempts and had 23 kickoffs into the end zone ... did not play in 2004 ... member of 2003 NJCAA national championship team ... was a defensive end and tight end and handled kickoff duties that year ... caught two passes ... coach was John Eliasik ... attended Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Ill. ... considered walking on at Purdue in 2003 ... has two years to play two seasons at Purdue.

Jeff Benjamin, DE, 6-2, 260, Corona, Calif. (Riverside C.C.)
Three-star recruit by Rivals.com ... named Mission Football Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year after amassing 59 tackles (29 solo, 30 assists), including 17 for loss and 9.5 sacks, with three forced fumbles last season ... team advanced to Southern California regional playoffs in its first postseason appearance in 12 years ... had 59 tackles (31 solo, 28 assists), including six for loss and four sacks, with one forced fumble in 2004 ... coach was Bill Brown ... originally signed with New Mexico in February 2003 but did not play that season as a medical redshirt ... attended Centennial High School in Corona, Calif. ... twice named all-league ... Academic All-American ... member of Honor Roll ... has been timed at 4.7 in the 40-yard dash ... has two years to play two seasons at Purdue.

Brandon Blackmon, DB, 6-0, 190, Fullerton, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio College)
Recorded 12 tackles (7 solo, 5 assists), including 1.5 for loss, in seven games last season ... did not have any tackles in two games in 2004 ... coach was Bob Jastrab ... attended Fullerton High School ... was a prep running back ... has three years to play two seasons at Purdue.

Markus Dawes, DB, 6-0, 190, Bradenton, Fla. (College of the Sequoias)
Three-star recruit by Rivals.com ... named second team All-Central Valley Conference after making 45 tackles and two interceptions last season ... coach was Curtis Allen ... attended Hutchinson (Kan.) C.C. in 2004 and earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors after having 30 tackles and one interception ... attended Bradenton-Bayshore High School ... all-state wide receiver as junior ... did not play his senior year in order to concentrate on academics ... has been timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash ... has three years to play two seasons at Purdue.

Michael McDonald, DE, 6-2, 250, Gatesville, Texas (Tyler J.C.)
Named second team NJCAA All-American and first team Southwest Junior College All-Conference after coming up with 39 tackles, including team-leading eight sacks, last season ... first team all-conference in 2004 ... coach was Jamie Critchlow ... attended Gatesville High School ... has been timed at 4.8 in the 40-yard dash ... has three years to play two seasons at Purdue.

Shaun Richardson, DE, 6-2, 245, St. Louis, Mo. (Joliet [Ill.] J.C.)
Originally signed with Boilermakers in February of 2003 ... three-star recruit by Rivals.com ... named second team NJCAA All-American, Region IV Defensive Most Valuable Player and first team all-region after recording 45 tackles (37 solo, 8 assists), including eight sacks, last season ... team played in Graphic Edge Printing Bowl ... team ranked 12th in NJCAA in total defense at 240.7 yards per game ... coach was Bob MacDougal ... attended Garden City (Kan.) Community College in 2003 but did not play while moving from linebacker to defensive end ... attended Cleveland NJROTC school in St. Louis ... ranked as No. 5 player in Missouri and No. 36 inside linebacker nationally by Rivals.com ... rated No. 29 player in Midlands and No. 34 linebacker nationally by SuperPrep ... amassed 125 tackles, including 14 sacks, as prep senior ... as running back rushed for 572 yards and three touchdowns ... had 109 tackles, including 10 sacks, his junior year ... has two years to play two seasons at Purdue.

Jaycen Taylor, RB, 5-10, 175, Hawthorne, Calif. (Los Angeles Harbor College)
Honorable mention All-Western State Conference selection after gaining 1,034 all-purpose yards and scoring two touchdowns last season ... had 546 rushing yards, 127 receiving yards, 162 punt return yards and 127 kickoff return yards ... coach was Andrew Alvillar ... attended Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, Calif. ... named all-area after leading the South Bay with 2,104 yards rushing and scoring 21 touchdowns as prep senior ... played in Southern California Shrine All-Star Classic ... has been timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash ... has four years to play three seasons at Purdue.

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