Kawann Short blocked an extra point and a field goal attempt in the opener against Eastern Kentucky to bring his career total to six blocks (2 extra points, 4 field goals).

"I think Kawann has great hand-eye coordination," Purdue coach Danny Hope said during his weekly teleconference on Tuesday. "If you take a ball and go out on the field and pitching it around and goofing off, he can really catch the football. He was an outstanding basketball player in high school. You see him do some things from an athletic standpoint - not necessarily speed oriented. Sometimes we always want to equate foot speed with athleticism. He has very quick feet and very quick hands and outstanding hand-eye coordination.

"That's a big part of him not only getting some push against the opponent's P.A.T. and field goal teams, but also be able to time it up and get his big paw up at the right time and bat the ball down out of the air. I think his excellent hand-eye coordination and his skill set as an athlete enable him to be a force in regards to blocking extra points and field goals."