- Indiana
STATE CHAMPS! SCOUT TEAM: Recruiting notebook (Blood, Sweat & Tears Edition) >> Allen To Purdue, Vode To WMU
Arguably the No. 1 overall quarterback prospect in Hoosierland is off the board. Gibson Southern junior field general Brady Allen is staying in-state and going to Purdue.
The 6-foot-5, machine gun-armed Allen committed to the Boilermakers last week. He’s a consensus four-star recruit and in addition to Purdue, he had offers from Indiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Kansas and Rutgers.
This playmaking signal-caller is dripping with finesse in the pocket and has all the physical tools, not to mention the vision, poise and intelligence to be a superstar at the next level. In other words, he threads needles like he owns an industrial sewing factory.
Allen has thrown for more than 5,000 yards in the last two seasons. Last fall as a sophomore, he logged 2,775 yards and 31 touchdowns through the air.
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The Kalamazoo Kid
Hobart senior safety Zach Vode, one of the most versatile players in Northwest Indiana, committed to Western Michigan. Vode (6-3, 210 pounds) will play a “Viper” spot in college, a hybrid position melding safety and outside linebacker. Last season, he collected 80 tackles and made six picks for a Hobart squad that advanced all the way to Class 4A semi-state. As a starting wide receiver, he caught 45 balls for 745 yards and five touchdowns. WMU, located in Kalamazoo, Mich., went 7-6 in 2019.
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About to be a Terre Haute Terror
Mt. Vernon senior running back Rylan Cole committed to Indiana State over the weekend. Cole (6-1, 190) is one of Hoosierland’s underrated gems out of the backfield, a churn-and-burn specialist with wheels, heart and football acumen. His legs never stop moving and he sees the field well when he runs. Cole’s Mt. Vernon made it to semi-state last year.
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An officer, a gentleman and a gridiron gladiator
Boonville senior running back Devin Mockobee has committed to Navy. Mockobee (6-0, 190) is a workhorse in the backfield. He ran for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior in 2019. In terms of Hoosierland’s Class of 2021, he represented tremendous value as a recruit. Speed, a spunky spirit and savage beast instinct rushing the rock. What more can you ask for?
On defense, he collected 46 tackles and made three interceptions out of the secondary last season. Navy was 11-2 in 2019. Boonville finished at .500, an even 5-5.
— SCOTT M. BURNSTEIN
