When I began this odyssey about two months ago now I didn't realize just how many walk-ons this roster had. We have a ton of double numbers coming up as well, so there are even more coming. Today's player is another walk-on, but he is positioned to contribute on the field before his time is done at Purdue.

Zack Heiniger - So. (RS)

Hometown: Fishers, IN (Hamilton Southeastern HS)

Linebacker

5'11", 204 pounds

2010 Projection: reserve at linebacker, possible special teams contributor.

Seeing Heiniger contribute on special teams is pure speculation, but he won the Verle H. Campbell Scout Team Award for Defense last season. Past winners of this award have found their way to the field such as George Hall, Robert Maci, Frank Duong, Jared Zwilling, and George Brigandi. That tells me he will find a place to play somewhere eventually. He does have three years left after walking on in 2008 and redshirting that year.

Heiniger was a high school teammate of Chris Summers and Chris Carlino. He is currently majoring in mechanical engineering technology and his father was also a Boilermaker. A website called Death by Sligger awarded him a Sliger Slam Award during his senior year of high school. I believe this show might follow the ESPY's (Egregious Spending by Privileged Youth) each week on Hamilton County Television. Heiniger also played basketball for the Royals. In the spring game he made a fumble recovery, so we could see him play somewhere this fall.