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26 Days to Purdue Football: Carter McGinnis

Let’s meet a promising walk-on from Guerin Catholic in Hamilton County.

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NCAA Football: Big Ten Media Days Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

We have a second No. 26 today, and he is a freshman walk-on from Noblesville!

Carter McGinnis – Fr.

Noblesville, IN (Guerin Catholic HS)

6’, 205 pounds

Running Back

2017 Projection: Likely Redshirt

It is a surprise that McGinnis is at Purdue. He was one of the top backs last year for Guerin Catholic, but thought his career was over once the high school season ended. He was even profiled in the Indianapolis Star about it:

“I’ve put a lot of thought into it and I think I’m going to be done after this year,” said McGinnis, Guerin Catholic’s 6-0, 200-pound starting running back and team captain. “I want to put all my energy into this last senior season with my brothers and just finish this out the right way, and that’ll be it.”

Not what you might expect from one of the state’s top running backs, one who has barreled to 1,377 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns through eight games.

If things are ever going the wrong way for the Golden Eagles, third-year coach Tom Dilley knows the last person that needs a boost is McGinnis. He is the boost, that type of running back who “will continue to just pound away when things aren’t going well and has the confidence that things are eventually going to go.”

That’s the type of player that has success as a walk-on. He builds others up. He probably won’t see the field this season, but he can have a positive effect on the scout team and help other guys get better. That is what we are looking for.