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ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3 53 f know what it is, but that guy has it.' I pride myself on that, just maybe scrambling for a half-second, making something (happen), flipping it, just hav- ing fun playing football." When spring opens, of all Purdue's redshirt freshmen, Blough may be the most closely watched. He'll have a chance to factor heavily into the Boilermakers' fray at quarterback. It'll be the opportunity Blough has been waiting for. Waiting is not something the fiery freshman is particularly fond of. "My patience has definitely been tested on mul- tiple levels because I love to compete just like any- body does," Blough said late in the season. "How- ever, getting to go against the scout team every day has made me three times the player I was in the fall just because the windows are tighter. I get to go against the (No.) 1 defense … and I'm run- ning all these different variations of offenses. It's making me a smarter, more experienced football player." Barring attrition, juniors Austin Appleby and Danny Etling will also be positioned to compete for the starting job in the spring. Incoming freshman Elijah Sindelar is enrolling mid- year, but a major knee injury undoubtedly will cost him his spring and a chance to factor into that mix prior to training camp. RUNNING BACK D.J. Knox played this season. But he didn't really play. The running back didn't redshirt in 2014, but played only on special teams, not getting a single snap on of- fense, let alone a carry or catch. "We did want to play him," running backs coach Ja- far Williams said, "but with Akeem (Hunt), Raheem (Mostert) and Keyante (Green) in there, there weren't enough reps to go around. He's definitely a guy we are planning for in the future." That kind of goes without saying considering Purdue's backfield mix, where seniors Hunt, Mostert and Brandon Cottom depart after accounting for 91 percent of Purdue's running backs carries this season. Knox is only 5-7, but powerful and well-built. CERAMIC • ENGINEERED hARDwooD LAMINATES • MARbLE CARPETING Specializing in • Homes • Businesses • Churches • Schools Where Contractors Buy Their Flooring Builders! Call our Contract Department and ask for our Contract Specialist 3437 State Road 26 E. 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office go boilers go boilers Tom Campbell D.J. Knox got a taste of game days, playing on special teams in 2014, but he could be a central factor in Purdue's rebuilt backfield next season.