Purdue Football Player Countdown: #95 Hayden Ellinger

When Purdue has had a walk-on from Ft. Wayne Dwenger it has worked out well in the past. They are a Catholic school powerhouse in the Fort Wayne area that produced long-time starter Landon Feichter a few years ago. That is where today’s newcomer comes from.

Hayden Ellinger - Fr.

Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Dwenger HS)

6’, 210 pounds

Linebacker

2020 Projection: Likely Redshirt

Dwenger has won five state championships in its history, and its last one came in 2018 with Ellinger on the team. They went 14-1 and beat Evansville Central in four overtimes 16-10. He had six tackles in the game to help his team to the title, which moved them up in class to 5A for last season and this season. Even in a higher class they went 11-2 last season, winning a sectional over our writer Kyle’s Harrison Raiders before losing to Valparaiso in the regional 10-7. The only other loss was 17-15 to Class 6A Homestead. Entering the state title games he had 75 tackles and 10 sacks as well as 279 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Ellinger had a lot of D-I interest according to his Rivals profile. The three military academies reportedly offered him, but he elected to walk-on at Purdue.