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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 5 27 running backs were pitted against linebackers in receiving/coverage drill in tight space. On the short side of the field from about the 10-yard line, backs caught a swing pass and then had to race for a touchdown. The linebacker's job: Stop the score. On one of Knox's snaps, he took 260-pound sophomore linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley head-on. Bentley delivered the brunt, though. When Knox hit the ground, his helmet was half-on, chin strap near his nose. He didn't practice for a week. And yet, Knox is vehement he'd do it again. "I try not to live my life scared or timid," he said. "That's just how I go about doing things, just trying to get it done, no matter how it needs to be done. I was just trying to run straight through him. I knew he kind of cut off (the lane), so there was only one way." Though Williams couldn't have been happy with the result, the trait won't be coached out of Knox — or any of Purdue's backs. Good thing, considering it's one that seems to permeate this group. In only two seasons, Green quick- ly has built a reputation. "Whenever he's coming and gets the ball and goes around the corner, cor- nerbacks know to get out of the way or he's going to embarrass you," Knox said. It was Green's intro- duction, actually. After redshirting his first season in 2013, Green was Purdue's No. 3 back last season, though he didn't really know it until the fourth game. After Mostert lost a fumble — he already was on a short leash with the coaching staff because of ball security issues — he was benched. Coaches turned to Green, who not only hadn't had a carry in the first three weeks but hadn't even been in the backfield for a snap. But out Green trotted in the fourth quarter against Southern Illinois, with Purdue looking to put the game away by grinding out yards. "Very first play was the Southern Illinois game — I had a run that I ran over the safety," Green recalls, a boyish grin spreading across his face. Defenders, not smiling so much. Green's absolute strength is his, well, strength. Though he'd like to get down to 195 — that'd be 10 more pounds after already losing 10 since the end of the season — Green knows he must keep his power and explosiveness. He says it's his "niche" to run between the tackles. But there's a reason he wants to trim down. "I feel like in order for me to be an elite back, it's good for me to actu- ally be more than that," Green said. "Being able to be faster, get outside and have quickness and be able to make moves in open space against guys just so every time when I get in open space, they're not expect- ing me to just make contact with them all the time. It leaves them guessing on what I'm going to do." Williams would rather Green sticks with what he's best at, but maybe that's because he generally feels pretty good about his stable of young players. Jones, the freshman, had an eye-opening jersey scrimmage in which he rushed for an impres- sive 155 yards. Telling: 115 of those yards were against the No. 1 de- fense, including 34- and 46-yarders. Even more telling: The production came after a slow start to the spring for the rookie, who admitted to not realizing how much would be asked of him and how much he needed to know. Once he figured that out, he made progress, and that was huge for the group, Williams said. "I think we've shown we have three guys who are capable of jumping into that (starting) role," Williams said. "They all have dif- ferent abilities a bit. I feel comfort- able with D.J. as the starter if we were to go into Game 1 right now. I would have no problem. But then look at a guy like Markell, man, he flashed some things in that first scrimmage. So if he continues to develop and grow, I have no prob- lem starting a true freshman, lining up against Marshall. "I think we have a couple guys who have the ability to be produc- tive." j