Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/558473
30 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED "I like to think I'm an ultimate competitor that when the lights come on, I show up," he said about his lack of game experience. "Starting for this team has been what I've worked for my entire life. But I know the coach- es are able to make the best decision for the team, and of course I want to do that, of course Austin wants to do that, of course Elijah wants to do that, but I'm ready to be the guy. … I've got a long ways to go, but I'm excited for this fall, that's for sure." RUNNING BACK Keyante Green played in nine games and rushed for nearly 200 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2014. That accounts for Purdue's experi- ence in the backfield. Knox played as a true freshman but only on special teams. Keith Byars, a redshirt freshman, seemed to be picking up steam in the spring but then he broke a bone in his shoulder. Markell Jones, Tario Fuller and Richie Worship are in their first seasons. Knox, based on his running style combination of bullish and slithery, and Green, based on that experience, are the top choices for the starting job. Neither is worried about experi- ence, however. "It doesn't matter," Knox said. "If you know how to play football, you should know how to run the ball. If you've seen it before, if you have the reflexes and the skills and the speed and the vision, it should all come naturally. I feel like everybody in our (running backs)room possesses those qualities. I don't feel as though experience hinders us at all. "I feel as though we all have the vision, and we definitely have dudes who can pound it, pound it, pound it and take it over and over again. We can break them every now and then. I feel as though we're dangerous. If you limit us to just making 20-yard runs, we're going to surprise a lot of people and break the 80 and the long ones that everybody says that we can no longer do just because Akeem (Hunt) and Raheem (Mostert) are gone." Think there's just a bit of confi- dence in the running back room? The 5-foot-7, 200-pound Knox is practically bursting with it, boosted by Hazell's high expectations and simple belief in his abilities. Knox was able to showcase some in the spring, breaking some tackles with shake and others with power. But fans haven't gotten to see much of that just yet. They will in 2015. Though Hazell doesn't envision one back getting the bulk of the carries, Knox could be the first option. "They can expect to see a nasty runner. I try to demolish the defender in front of me," Knox said. "I know people look at my stature and say, 'He's small.' But I bring a powerful punch, and that's one thing I do bring to the table. I'm going to get in their heads. I'm go- ing to be a linebacker on offense." Green has proven he can be just that. At 5-9, 220, he's built a reputation as a downhill, bruising runner. "He'll definitely run you over," center Robert Kugler said. That's exactly the personality the group wants. "I have no doubt if they can get to the second level — if we can open up that second level for them and they can get up there — then it's going," left guard Jason King said. "None of those guys go down with an arm tack- le or none of those guys go down with just one person trying to tackle them. I'm excited to see them." WIDE RECEIVER Purdue hasn't had a receiver lead its offense in receptions since 2012. With a potentially more wide-open offense that will get more receiv- ers snaps, this group is counting on changing that. "Just seeing the formula of how this year is going to shake out, I think everybody understands that a lot is going to be on our shoulders," said Anthrop, who may have had enough receptions to be a team leader had he not suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9. "There's no way around it. People are excited and people are getting a little bit anxious, too, be- cause everybody wants their chance. I think it is going to be a pretty big prov- ing year for a lot of young guys. "I think that the kind of tools every- body brings, we're well-rounded and I think it's going to be exciting to see. It was exciting when we hit our groove offensive- ly last year, and we weren't really hitting on all cylinders at that Wide receivers Fifth-year senior 87 Shane Mikesky 6-4 218 Senior 33 Danny Anthrop* 6-0 191 Juniors 14 Bilal Marshall 6-2 195 9 Dan Monteroso 6-3 192 18 Cameron Posey 6-1 183 80 DeAngelo Yancey* 6-2 223 13 Domonique Young 6-3 205 Sophomores 15 Trae Hart 5-10 168 21 Anthony Mahoungou 6-3 207 82 Myles Norwood 6-0 175 13 Gregory Phillips* 6-0 191 81 Keenan Schon 5-10 185 Redshirt freshmen 80 Alex Egurbide 6-6 210 82 Alex Hilger 6-2 192 * Projected starters