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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 19 f Jones committed to Purdue in December over other long-standing offers from Iowa State, Western Michigan, Marshall, Tu- lane and others. Whatever spot he winds up playing on Purdue's defensive line, his de- meanor should be what its coaches are looking for. "He's very aggressive, very physical, very tough," Carter said. "He brings a punch in his play that I love. "He's a very physical tackler … with great ac- celeration and he's a great finisher of plays. You can see the attitude in his tackling." DEXTER KNOX Running Back Dexter Knox came from literally out of nowhere. A role player for Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga., most of his career, it wasn't until the tail end of the diminutive running back's senior sea- son that circumstance cast him into a starring role. Injuries to other backs changed everything for Knox, who'd been largely used as a blocker prior to his senior season. In helping Creekside to a 15-0 season, he erupted for nearly 1,500 rushing yards. In the state title game against Tucker, Knox ran for five touch- downs in a 52-28 win. As Knox made his name, Purdue took notice. It of- fered him shortly after the season ended and told him it would need a decision quickly. It got one, and he became the lone running back in the 2014 sign- ing class. Cincinnati, Mar- shall and Georgia State also showed in- terest in Knox, who likely would have been an FCS recruit had he not emerged as a senior. Knox is small — he's listed at 5-9, but lists himself at 5-7 — but is said to run big- ger than he is. "He is very, very powerful," running backs coach Jafar Wil- liams said. "He does a great job of breaking tackles. He's one of those guys who runs angry and has an at- titude when he runs. We love that about him." Built low to the ground, the 200-pound Knox's running style has been compared to NFL star Ray Rice. "He's going to deliver a blow," Williams said. "He's not going to take a blow." The Rice comparison holds up, too, when it comes to Knox's versatili- ty. "I can run in between the tackles and also catch screens and run routes and everything, kind of like an all-purpose back," Knox said. "… When they offered me, they said they were looking for a play- maker who could do some of everything. They said they had big plans for me, that they could run screens for me and just do different things." AUSTIN MCGEHEE Punter Purdue needed a punter in its 2014 class to, it is hoped, step right in and re- place the departed Cody Webster. In June, it offered Austin McGehee and quickly secured a commitment from the Arkansas kicker. His expectation is to fill that punting void for Purdue next season while also pos- sibly competing for other kicking roles. Punting, obviously, will be the priority. "One thing that I'm really good at, and that Coach Freeman liked, is my placement," Mc- Gehee said. "He said my placement was spot Jones Knox Glen Johnson Dexter Knox completed an impressive senior year by scoring five times in the title game leading Creekside to the Georgia state title.