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same quarterback in team work as he is on 7-on-7. If there's a 3-technique (lineman) a foot away, he'll still throw the ball and just be fine." But is Etling ready to play right away against one of the nation's toughest schedules and surrounded by skill players with little game experience? He thinks so — otherwise he wouldn't have enrolled I early. But the summer provided him a chance really think about what his sacrifice meant. "During the spring, you're not really thinking so much, 'Oh, I might be the starting quarterback as a true freshman.' You're just competing and doing your best and do really well," Etling said. "Then all of a sudden, you start watching film of Ohio State and Cincin- More than a big-play threat? t's hard to question Akeem Hunt got the latter from his new Hunt's big-play ability. coaches this spring. They told him In his first two seasons at Purif that he wanted to be "the guy," due, Hunt averaged 13.3 yards per the first tackler could never bring touch. Even subtracting kickoff rehim down and he had to consistentturns, Hunt still had a whopping 9.3 ly break tackles. yards per touch over his first two Hunt showed that in flashes. seasons. "He probably exceeded some exIn 2012 — when he averaged 9.8 pectations some days," Shoop said. yards on 55 rushes and receptions "It's good to know you can coach — Hunt had six plays more than them hard. It's good to have com40 yards and four touchdowns of petitive guys on your team. I think at least 50 yards. Since 2002, Hunt he wants to be good. That's a big has three of the program's longest part of it. I think he wants to be 22 runs (81, 56, 50). pushed. I think he wants to leave "He's the type of guy that a 10his comfort zone every single day. Tom Campbell yard run can be a 50-yard run and a Some of the guys don't." After seizing each opportunity given in touchdown," offensive coordinator 2012, Akeem Hunt is getting a chance Among the more recent responsJohn Shoop said. "We have a phrase to carry the full-time load for Purdue in es to that ever-present challenge that, 'Plays gain yards but players 2013. came this summer. Hunt used a score touchdowns.' He's the type of "strategic weight-gain diet" to bulk guy that if he makes one guy miss, you might have six up, and he also spent portions of the team's run-only points on the board no matter where you are." workout days in the weight room to gain power and Hunt didn't like being limited to spot duty. But there strength. was little other choice with Akeem Shavers and Ralph All with one goal: To be what some people think he Bolden ahead of him. can't be but what he's never doubted he can. Now, it is Hunt's show. "I've always thought I could do more," Hunt said. Assuming he proves he can handle the load of be- "But being an everydown running back, when you ing a workhorse back: Shoop doesn't like the by-com- touch the ball, it shouldn't be like you're trying to mittee approach. score every single time. You've got to watch down the Hunt has heard doubts he can't handle the extend- field. You have to run through the gaps, through the ed role. A gaps (between the center and guard), instead of He's heard them all his life. speed sweeps and all that. So that's what I'm learning Hunt generally has been one of the smallest players right now as far as this offense — that sometimes on his teams — he's generously listed at 5-foot-9 now it's going to be five yards and then six yards and then — but he's countered that with a fight and a spirit to touchdown." respond to challenges. — Stacy Clardie GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 • 19