Purdue likes Hance at tight end

Jacksonville, Ill., three-star Blake Hance is now at nine scholarship offers, so he is getting used to having opportunities presented to him, but something about Purdue's offer on Tuesday was unique.

"I just got off the phone a little while ago with Coach [Darrell] Hazell from Purdue," Hance said. "They offered me, so that is pretty exciting. They always told me they liked my stuff and Coach Hazell said he got a chance to study my film today and liked what he saw so he didn't want to wait any longer."

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Hance has played tight end throughout his high school career, but most schools are recruiting him as an offensive tackle. Purdue, however, plans to keep him exactly where he is at now.

"Actually, Purdue offered me as a tight end so that is pretty nice," Hance said. "I am obviously more comfortable at tight end right now and that is definitely a big plus. It would be awesome to continue playing a position I already play, but at the same time I am definitely really open to changing positions. Either way, I am trying to find the right school overall."

Purdue joins a list of offers that also includes Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, N.C. State, Vanderbilt, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Wyoming. Hance is still evaluating his options and hosting coaches in-school this month.

"I don't have a set timetable like some guys do," Hance said. "I am starting to try and figure some things out. This spring I am trying to learn as much as I can about everywhere. After this evaluation period I should have a pretty good idea of who is out there for me, so by the end of that I should have it pretty narrowed down.

"Sometime in the summer - it could be late, it could be early- I want to have my decision made."

Hance is planning to attend a recruiting event at Vanderbilt on May 18 that coincides with a Commodore's baseball game. In the meantime he continues to host coaches in-school, including several that are still evaluating him for an offer.

"Probably the one that stood out as being cool was the o-line coach from Nebraska came through and watched my after school workouts," Hance said. "He said he really likes what he saw and said he is really pulling for me [to get an offer] after seeing what I can do. That's a big one and would be a cool place to have an opportunity to play at."

Other schools that have been through Hance's school in the last few weeks that have not offered include Northwestern and Michigan.