Purdue kick scrimmage produces mixed results
WEST LAFAYETTE -- Thomas Meadows isn't ready to throw his name into Purdue's quarterback derby.
Not just yet.
Based on Meadows' performance at Saturday's kick scrimmage, the senior might have a shot. Don't count on it, though.
Meadows hit Gregory Phillips on a 59-yard touchdown pass toward the end of the scrimmage. For the record, Meadows didn't throw the ball close to that distance and Phillips came back to make the catch and outrun defenders to reach the end zone.
"It was more luck than skill," Meadows said.
In case the Boilermakers need a fake punt in the 2015 season, Meadows is ready. He also ran 20 yards on another fake punt as the Gold team beat the Black team 31-12 in Ross-Ade Stadium.
However, Meadows' job is punting. He's focusing on better placement, especially inside the 20-yard line, and hang time.
"When we were at our worst on punt team last year, that's where I was at my worst was probably on the hang time," he said. "That's something I can improve on to help everybody out on the punt team.
"I want to improve my overall consistency. I want to make my mishits better. My worst punt, I want that to improve. I feel like that's a lot of times where you're measured and that's a lot of times the punt that might show up in a game."
Although Paul Griggs is the primary kicker, Meadows made six field goals, including a long of 37 yards. Meanwhile, Griggs struggled, converting 4-of-12. His longest was 44 yards.
The specialists are working with a new long snapper and Meadows is Griggs' holder but that wasn't the case based on how the teams were divided.
It didn't matter to coach Darrell Hazell.
"We have to make those kicks," Hazell said. "If the ball is down on the tee, you've got to make those. I don't put that on the long snapper at all. We've got to make those kicks."
Freshman Ben Makowski is out this spring after suffering a broken foot and is expected to handle the long snapping duties in the fall. Both Meadows and Griggs were able to work with Makowski for about a month before his injury.
Griggs wasn't too concerned about Saturday's performance.
"The bottom line is we'll be ready to go when we play Marshall," Griggs said.
The scrimmage also featured two blocked field goals by Da'Wan Hunte. Michael Rouse and Johnny Daniels also blocked field goals and Trae Hart returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown.
Injury updates
• Defensive end Evan Panfil didn't finish Saturday's practice after injuring his left shoulder in a drill prior to the kick scrimmage.
• Defensive tackle Ra'Zahn Howard suffered a shoulder injury in Thursday's Steeler Drill and didn't fully participate Saturday.
• Receiver Anthony Mahoungou (Achilles) missed his second straight practice, but Hazell is targeting a Tuesday return for the junior college transfer.
• Receiver Danny Anthrop continues to show improvement after undergoing ACL surgery in December. The Lafayette native was going through drills Saturday, cutting and planting while running routes. However, don't expect Anthrop to be involved in contact drills.
"We won't put him in any situations where it could hurt him," Hazell said. "He's played a lot of football for us and you don't risk a guy like that who's an impact player."