Purdue picks top players for anticipated `best class'.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Pete DiPrimio

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. _ For eight years Purdue coach Joe Tiller has sought a big-impact physical receiver who can thrive against press-and-push coverages.

Come Wednesday, the first day of the college signing period, he expects to finally land one _ Harding's Selwyn Lymon. The 6-foot-4-inch, 190-pound all-state standout has the physical tools to withstand the rugged tactics Michigan and Wisconsin have utilized so well against the Boilers.

"Lymon is a big-time receiver," said Tom Lemming, the publisher of USAprep.com, a national Internet recruiting site. "He'll be an instant-impact player because of his size and hands and speed. They got a good one."

Lemming, who also publishes Prep Football Report and handles recruiting for ESPN.com, said Lymon helps make up Tiller's best-ever class. "Lymon might be the best player in the state," he said.

Rivals.com, a national Internet recruiting service, lists Lymon No. 1 in Indiana, No. 7 nationally among wide receivers and No. 72 nationally among all players. He's one of three four-star players (out of a five-star rating system) to commit to the Boilers. The others are 6-foot-6-inch, 300-pound offensive lineman Jason Kacinko of Pennsylvania and 6-foot-3-inch, 260-pound defensive end J.B. Paxson of Greenwood, Ind.

Paxson chose Purdue over Tennessee, yet another indication of how far the Boilers' recruiting has come. The Boilers also landed linebacker Kyle Williams, a five-star player who signed with Iowa last year, then backed out and has arrived in West Lafayette.