27 Days To Purdue Football: Evan Feichter And D.J. Knox

Today we're back to two players, and both are ridiculously hard workers that could be big surprises in 2014. One is the younger brother of a regular starter who earned his playing time the hard way as a walk-on. The other is a lightly recruited running back that is a diamond in the rough.

Evan Feichter - So. (RS)

Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Dwenger HS)

6', 180 pounds

Safety

2014 Projection: Contributor at safety/special teams

D.J. Knox - Fr.

Fairburn, GA (Creekside HS)

5'7", 200 pounds

Running Back

2014 Projection: Possible redshirt

For Evan Feichter, he is the younger brother of starting safety Landon Feichter. Like his brother, he came to Purdue as a walk-on and earned playing time as a redshirt freshman last year. He played in three games last season as a reserve safety and finished with two tackles. Those are modest numbers, but since so many walk-ons never even play, Evan had to have shown something to play as a redshirt freshman. He could play even more this year. Purdue is far from loaded at the position, and it needs every capable body it can get.

For Knox, many were surprised when he committed late last season and there was little known about him. Purdue may have found a surprise contributor in him, however. He put up huge numbers his senior season with 1,479 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns along with 650 yards and 10 TDs receiving. He led his team to the Georgia 5A state championship, but almost no one was recruiting him. At 5'7" but a rock solid 200 pounds he is like a bowling ball and is not afraid to push the host of running backs ahead of him.