Mike Carmin

mcarmin@jconline.com

First-year coach Jeff Brohm is looking for playmakers at the receiver position

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jared Sparks' quickness would be an asset at receiver

Sparks is battling Elijah Sindelar at No. 2 quarterback position

The Louisiana native attended Dutchtown High School in Geismar

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –His heart is at quarterback.

His talents, though, may give Purdue’s football team a boost at receiver.

On Monday, redshirt freshman Jared Sparks started taking snaps at receiver as first-year coach Jeff Brohm searches for playmakers up and down the roster. Sparks remains in the quarterback rotation but is learning the receiver position to see where it might lead.

“I know I have some abilities that can help us out in those areas,” the native of Geismar, Louisiana said. “Of course, my love, my first heart is quarterback, but If they need me in the slot, if they need me on the outside just to bring a difference to the pace of the game, I’ll do it with no hesitation.”

The Boilermakers are thin, inexperienced and banged up at receiver. They’ve lacked consistency during spring practice, either in running routes or making catches. It’s difficult to determine a true read on where this offense is at because of the holes at the position, along with the struggles on the offensive line.

At least for now, Sparks brings an athletic element and a desire to make big plays. He called this week "a joy" because it's helped showcase his athletic abilities.

“He’s very athletic. He can run,” Brohm said. “We’re starting to put a little bit of a package in for him at quarterback; things he can maybe really challenge the defense on.

“And also, because of his speed, he may be eventually a guy that has to get the ball in his hands some, whether that’s at quarterback, running back or receiver.”

Sparks is taking this assignment seriously and not just going through the motions until the coaching staff moves him back to quarterback on a regular basis.

He stayed after Wednesday’s practice to work on routes with receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard.

“I didn’t want to look like a scrub out there the next time I went,” he said. “I wanted to make sure I got everything perfect. I’m really a guy that is very persistent and always wants to be perfect in anything that I do.”

During Friday’s light practice ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage, Sparks ran routes as an outside receiver with the No. 2 offense. As he was returning to the huddle, he flipped the ball to a teammate and lined up at quarterback. He ran a zone-read play to running back Richie Worship.

But playing quarterback remains part of his plan. Brohm and his staff have put together a package of plays for Sparks, looking for any method to give the offense an advantage in the fall.

“Nothing is off the table to try to score with what we have right now,” Brohm said. “Yes, if he ends up not being the starter at quarterback, we could carry a certain package for him and make sure that’s up and running every game. I think he’d do a good job with it and he can throw well enough to execute with that. Also, we’ll look at him split out some as well.”

Sparks is expected to see more action at quarterback in Saturday’s scrimmage, but look for the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder to take snaps at receiver, probably with the second- and third-team units.

Sparks believes he’s making progress at quarterback, battling Elijah Sindelar for the No. 2 spot behind projected starter David Blough. Playing receiver has also helped Sparks to learn more about the quarterback position and Brohm’s offense.

Quarterback remains his long-term goal, but he may provide a short-term answer at a position of need.

“You always have your internal goals that you try to always accomplish,” Sparks said. “For my goal now, that package that he has for me, kill it and make it work so that opportunity can maybe lead to another one.

“Of course, my goal and every competitor’s goal is to want to have the whole offense to himself and be the starter, be that guy. My position right now, I’m going to take whatever he gives me. If the package is what it is, right now at this point that’s what I’m going to go after. That’s my goal right now."

This and that

Saturday's scrimmage starts at 10 a.m. at Ross-Ade Stadium. The scrimmage is expected to feature about 100 plays. ... Griffin Alstott and his father and Boilermaker legend, Mike, attended Friday's practice. Griffin, a quarterback at St. Petersburg (Florida) Northside Christian, signed with Purdue in February.

Contributing: Nathan Baird/nbaird@jconline.com

Contact Journal & Courier sports reporter Mike Carmin at mcarmin@jconline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @carmin_jc