Humbled Purdue receiver ready to bounce back

DeAngelo Yancey has a message for athletes who think they've made it before they actually have.

He speaks from experience.

"Never go to Google and Google yourself. I promise you I did it two times every day and it was me believing what people were telling me and all the offseason stuff. I had photo shoots and people calling me. It got to my head a little bit," Purdue's junior receiver said following Tuesday's spring practice.

Yancey was coming off a solid freshman season during coach Darrell Hazell's first year. That first season, Yancey made big plays. He made mistakes, but the promise and the potential were evident. Yancey was going to elevate his game in 2014 and become the No. 1 target in the passing game.

As you know, it didn't happen.

"After my freshman year and anybody will tell you, I got a little complacent," Yancey said. "I was expecting to go out and do stuff without putting in the time and the effort and stuff like that. I felt I had arrived after my freshman season."

The performance on the field proved otherwise. So did the numbers.

Yancey caught 12 passes for 147 yards as a sophomore. Seven other Boilermakers caught more passes, including B.J. Knauf who played in only seven games. As a freshman, Yancey made five starts and caught 32 receptions for 546 yards.

His final game in 2013 should've provided the best springboard possible. He made 11 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown in a loss at Indiana.

Gerad Parker wasn't Yancey's coach last season but is now overseeing the receivers after moving from coaching the tight ends. He's well aware of Yancey's struggles and is on a mission to help the Georgia native bounce back.

"There's probably been a pretty good awakening with him because of it," Parker said. "We haven't ignored the conversation. I hope that's helping. I don't think you can ignore it. We know what happened. How do we fix it, address it and move forward because he needs to be a good player for this football team and himself."

His lowest moment last season came against Wisconsin in November. He remembers the play, the route and the end result.

"I knew coming into the game I was on thin ice anyway," Yancey said. "I came out thinking too much and making sure I made the play and dropped the pass. That was the last time I was with the (first-team) for the rest of the season."

He was benched.

Yancey, though, has picked himself up in the offseason and now looks to become an integral part of the passing game in 2015. Yancey claims he's dropped one pass during this year's spring practice. He couldn't say that last year.

In retrospect, what transpired last season could benefit Yancey and the Boilermakers.

"I was talking to my mom and dad and they said that's exactly what you needed. That was perfect," he said. "This offseason I've been working as hard as I can in the weight room, off the field, with the quarterbacks and the film room.

"I feel good. My confidence is great. My body is great. I feel like I'm running faster and I feel like I'm having fun."

This and that

Safety Robert Gregory left Tuesday's practice early. Hazell said medical personnel were examining Gregory's knee. … The Boilermakers have canceled Thursday's practice at Indianapolis Tech High School because of expected severe weather. The team will practice at the Mollenkopf Athletic Center starting at 3:30 p.m.