28 Days To Purdue Football: David Yancey

Is there a forgotten member of the 2013 recruiting class? Today's player came to Purdue with a ton of promise and was teased as a possible contributor last year according to coach Hazell. Now he is in a bit of limbo, because he plays at a position loaded with talent and it may be hard for him to play in 2014.

David Yancey - Fr. (RS)

Schererville, IN (Lake Central HS)

5'10", 215 pounds

Running back

2014 Projection: reserve at running back

Perhaps Yancey's biggest contribution in 2014 is that he was a high school teammate of Gelen Robinson, a freshman expected to make an instant impact at linebacker. He has been with the program for some time now. He enrolled a semester early and was possibly going to contribute last year, but Dalyn Dawkins took all the true freshman carries. After rushing for 1,168 yards and 17 scores as a senior in HS last year had to be rough where he did not play at all.

Now he finds himself in a logjam at running back. Akeem Hunt, Brandon Cottom, and Raheem Mostert are going to get most of the carries. Keyante Green is the young back most likely to play, and Keith Byars II & D.J. Knox are both freshmen fighting Yancey for fifth on the depth chart.

Yancey does has the advantage of size, however, and that may lead to a fullback's role. He is one of Purdue's bigger running backs, so don't be surprised if he is eventually opening holes for other guys.