Nationally rated tight end Garrett Bushong from Ionia Mich., has made his public announcement that he has chosen to become a Boilermaker. Bushong originally verballed to Michigan State, but became lost in the shuffle after head coach Bobby Williams was fired.

Bushong, at 6'5 and 225 pounds, is rated as the nation's 13th-best tight end prospect by scout Tom Lemming. Yet Bushong also possesses the speed to possibly play defensive end. He has a 30' vertical leap and has run a 4.75 40-yard time.

Bushong committed to the Boilers following a home visit with Joe Tiller and Brock Spack over a week ago, but waited to announce. He plans to graduate early and enroll at Purdue in time to join spring practice.

2003: Zach Maurides, OL/DL

Purdue has made the final list of Glenbrook South (IL) two-way lineman Zach Maurides. He's 6'6 and 265 pounds. On defense, Zach had 54 tackles this year.

Maurides finished third this summer at the ProSport Greatest Athlete Competition, which was won by Buffalo Grove quarterback-defensive back Tom Zbikowski. The workout ran eight NFL-combine style events. Maurides won the forward medicine ball throw and the car push. His weight has been reported as high as 275, and reported as low as 260.