6'2", 290-pound St. Rita Mustang senior Bruce Gaston is recognized as one of the top defensive tackles in the nation. Well, BIG Bruce, as he is commonly tag, has made his decision - Purdue.

"I came to my final decision this morning," the 6-foot-2, 290-pound tackle said Tuesday during a press conference in Hickory Hills to announce his oral commitment. "I just always felt very comfortable at Purdue, and in the end that really helped me make my decision. I can see myself 40 years from now looking back and being glad I chose to go to Purdue."

Gaston picked the Boilermakers over Boston College, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Wisconsin. National signing day is Feb. 3.

BIG Bruce was a first-team All-State player who had 99 tackles and 13 sacks last season for the Mustangs, who finished 11-3 and won the Prep Bowl championship against Simeon at Soldier Field after losing 23-14 to 7A champion Wheaton Warrenville South in the state quarterfinals.

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St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said Gaston turned the corner from being a big kid with potential into one of the class' top defensive line prospects toward the end of his junior season.

"Bruce as a lower-level player was always big and strong," coach Todd Kuska said. "He used a lot of his natural strength to dominate on the defensive line. It took him some time to really buy into some of the technique. I knew that once he started to hit the combines and the summer camps he would be a guy who was ready to take off."

Purdue was 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten last season

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