The most interesting player on Purdue's team this year is easily Rob Henry and not just because his blood smells like cologne.
The junior quarterback/whatever may play a huge role by playing a bunch of roles for Purdue this season or he may not. We don't know.
What we do know is he is probably an NFL-caliber athlete, provided his knee is right, who can't just be left to idle on the sideline, and that Purdue's coaching staff is going to have to get creative to work him in.
During the offseason, Danny Hope suggested Henry would be an upgrade over some of the skill players Purdue's using at positions Henry doesn't even play, which I guess can be read as both ringing praise of Henry and an indictment of sorts of those others.
But there's no doubt the physical 6-foot-2, 200-some-pounder with team-best-type speed is the sort of athlete Purdue just doesn't have at other key positions, like wide receiver or safety.
Henry is going to play all over, how much, we don't know.
He won't play defense; he will play offense.
But he's stuck at quarterback, with Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve back after stepping last season into the void that was left when Henry got hurt.
Amazing the position quarterback injuries have put Purdue in, with three starting quarterbacks back. But of the three, Henry is the coldest product, because he hasn't played in the longest period of time.
There's certainly a role for Henry as a stark contrast to the other two quarterbacks; any Wildcat-ish role Henry would play could be classified as a wrinkle, not an outlandish three-quarterback system. That's a relevant distinction to make. But as a quarterback, his role seems destined this season to be that of both wrinkle and decoy.
How does that sit with him?
The Rob Henry we've come to know is a quietly ferocious competitor and a team guy through and through. There are some Tim Tebow-ish qualities there, always have been. That's a compliment.
But he's also headstrong and has been bullish on his place as a quarterback, answering every question about his potential Swiss Army Knife role with an almost defiant, "I came here to play quarterback " response, before conceding he'll do whatever is asked of him.
Henry is an important personality on this team, a strong leader as a young player who might have been a bit out of sight, out of mind in that sense last season while recovering from surgery.
Can he re-assert himself in that role amidst other strong personalities at quarterback when he isn't the proverbial "guy"?
That's a secondary consideration, however, to what he might be able to contribute as a player.
As we discussed in our last blog, Purdue's offense needs to become more explosive and convert its identity more toward the passing game, hoping to improve profoundly with mostly the same group that wasn't very explosive last year.
Tough to expect much from Henry in a receiving capacity since he's an unknown in that capacity, but speed is speed and a healthy Henry has lots of it, not to mention the height and physicality none of Purdue's other top receivers have.
In that projected ? and we are just guessing here ? Wildcat role, he can be a weapon. He was pretty good with it as a sophomore with an offensive cast around him that lacked other playmakers.
Purdue wasn't going to throw out of the 'Cat last season, but Henry gives it a much more viable option than did Justin Siller last season. Henry wasn't exactly Aaron Rodgers as a passer as a redshirt freshman, but it must be kept in mind that last we saw him throw a relevant pass, he'd just come back from a mangled finger. And he's had two full offseasons now to improve. Now, he should be far more advanced as a passer. Having 10 fingers will help, too.
Henry is a personality type that should not be underestimated and an athlete that must be put to good use.
That's a big part of the reason it wouldn't surprise me to see a guy who looks right now like more of a bit player to hold down leading roles both on and off the field for a team that could use a little more dynamic presence on its offense and in its locker room.
Oh, and someone who's punched a magician.
(That's right, you heard me.)
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.
