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Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha linebacker Jawhaun Bentley committed to Purdue early last month over offers Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse, West Virginia, and most of the schools in the Big Ten according to the hard-hitting defender. The Boilermakers struggled on the field this year, but Bentley looked past their record to give his verbal commitment to head coach Darrell Hazell.

"It's great Big Ten football," remarked Bentley. "I believe the Purdue Boilermakers are on the rise with Coach Hazell coming from Kent State and Coach (Marcus) Freeman coming from Ohio State. I feel it's a tremendous honor for me to commit there."

Purdue jumped on Bentley late in the season. He said leaving his backyard wasn't much of a factor in his recruitment. The three-star 'backer took his official visit to West Lafayette in December and the trip went better than he planned.

"It was a great visit," noted Bentley. "The visit was one of things that led me to commit. The area around there and the football family is tremendous. I liked what was building up down there and I can't wait to be a part of it."

The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder said he likely won't take any official visits over the final three weeks allowed for prospects to get on campus at respective schools.

Last weekend, he participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl. Bentley's team won the all-star event, 21-19.

Bentley is looking forward to graduating and reporting to the next level in a few months. His message for Purdue fans was simple and to the point, "Bolier up, hammer down."