By CLIFF BRUNT
Source: Associated Press
Posted: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 4:56:00 PM EST
Published: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 4:57:22 PM EST
Posted: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 4:56:00 PM EST
Published: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 4:57:22 PM EST
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Sophomore running back Ralph Bolden has held off senior Jaycen Taylor to earn the starting job for Purdue's season opener Saturday against Toledo.
Senior Frank Halliburton, junior Dan Dierking, sophomore Jared Crank and highly touted freshman Al-Terek McBurse also competed for the spot. Purdue coach Danny Hope said Bolden, a tough runner with breakaway speed, entered training camp as the front-runner and held on largely because he was the best playmaker of the group.
"He's a complete back, there's no question about it," Hope said Tuesday during his weekly news conference. "He's had great competition. We've had all kinds of guys marching there in that No. 1 running back spot, but right now it's Ralph Bolden."
Bolden was forced into action last season when Taylor tore the anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee and redshirted.
Taylor didn't return for the spring and Bolden ran for 153 yards in the Black and Gold game.
"I just took advantage of whatever I had, the opportunity to get on the field," Bolden said. "Just did little things right and it paid off."
Taylor ran for 560 yards two seasons ago, and had won the starting job over Kory Sheets before getting injured. He said he entered this season's training camp at about 90 percent health.
Hope likes what he has seen from Taylor.
"Jaycen Taylor is back, and we think he's close to the form that he was at in 2007," he said. "He's a heck of a football player. He'll play a lot Saturday."
Taylor said he didn't mind fighting for the job.
"It's all a part of the game," he said. "I don't really think of it as a competition because regardless of who's in there, I want us to perform well. I just go out and do my best and ask them to do their best."
Taylor admits the situation is ideal for the coaches, but not for the ball carriers.
"My philosophy has always been when you get in and get the ball, you've got to make the best of it," he said. "I don't think it's going to be enough (carries) that we want, but that's just how the game goes sometimes."
McBurse ran for 2,238 yards and 23 touchdowns his senior year in Winter Springs, Fla. He graduated from high school early to be eligible for spring practice, but he wasn't certified by the NCAA and couldn't participate.
He was eligible for training camp, but he quickly suffered a knee injury among several nicks and dings. Boilermaker fans might have to wait to see the young man his coach calls "The Freak."
"He does some things in practice that indicates what a great prospect he is, but he hasn't had many days of practice where he was full go from a contact standpoint," Hope said. "Certainly don't rule him out for the remainder of the season, but he's not a big factor in the game this Saturday."
McBurse said during training camp that he believes he can bring the big play to Purdue's offense.
"I can bring the my speed, ability to block, make guys miss," he said. "I think I can contribute to the offense and take the offense to the next level."
Hope feels good about the collection of talent at the position.
"Some of the best players on our football team are lined up at the running back spot, and they're all tough guys that finish their runs and block well, so I'm excited about our running backs."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Senior Frank Halliburton, junior Dan Dierking, sophomore Jared Crank and highly touted freshman Al-Terek McBurse also competed for the spot. Purdue coach Danny Hope said Bolden, a tough runner with breakaway speed, entered training camp as the front-runner and held on largely because he was the best playmaker of the group.
"He's a complete back, there's no question about it," Hope said Tuesday during his weekly news conference. "He's had great competition. We've had all kinds of guys marching there in that No. 1 running back spot, but right now it's Ralph Bolden."
Bolden was forced into action last season when Taylor tore the anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee and redshirted.
Taylor didn't return for the spring and Bolden ran for 153 yards in the Black and Gold game.
"I just took advantage of whatever I had, the opportunity to get on the field," Bolden said. "Just did little things right and it paid off."
Taylor ran for 560 yards two seasons ago, and had won the starting job over Kory Sheets before getting injured. He said he entered this season's training camp at about 90 percent health.
Hope likes what he has seen from Taylor.
"Jaycen Taylor is back, and we think he's close to the form that he was at in 2007," he said. "He's a heck of a football player. He'll play a lot Saturday."
Taylor said he didn't mind fighting for the job.
"It's all a part of the game," he said. "I don't really think of it as a competition because regardless of who's in there, I want us to perform well. I just go out and do my best and ask them to do their best."
Taylor admits the situation is ideal for the coaches, but not for the ball carriers.
"My philosophy has always been when you get in and get the ball, you've got to make the best of it," he said. "I don't think it's going to be enough (carries) that we want, but that's just how the game goes sometimes."
McBurse ran for 2,238 yards and 23 touchdowns his senior year in Winter Springs, Fla. He graduated from high school early to be eligible for spring practice, but he wasn't certified by the NCAA and couldn't participate.
He was eligible for training camp, but he quickly suffered a knee injury among several nicks and dings. Boilermaker fans might have to wait to see the young man his coach calls "The Freak."
"He does some things in practice that indicates what a great prospect he is, but he hasn't had many days of practice where he was full go from a contact standpoint," Hope said. "Certainly don't rule him out for the remainder of the season, but he's not a big factor in the game this Saturday."
McBurse said during training camp that he believes he can bring the big play to Purdue's offense.
"I can bring the my speed, ability to block, make guys miss," he said. "I think I can contribute to the offense and take the offense to the next level."
Hope feels good about the collection of talent at the position.
"Some of the best players on our football team are lined up at the running back spot, and they're all tough guys that finish their runs and block well, so I'm excited about our running backs."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
