GAME PREVIEW: PURDUE
On PaPer
BY DOUGLAS FARMER
PURDUE RUNNING GAME
VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE
Last year, Purdue's run game struggled to replace
its leading rusher, and dynamo Akeem Hunt aver-
aged only 3.8 yards per rush despite his big-play
potential. The Boilermakers finished second to last
in the nation with an average of just 67.1 yards per
contest on the ground.
Hunt, a senior, still gets plenty of carries — 15
for 78 yards in the season opener versus Western
Michigan, including one he broke for 38 yards —
but classmate Raheem Mostert will likely finish his
career on top of the depth chart. Against Western
Michigan, Mostert carried the ball 22 times for 146
yards and a touchdown.
Mostert won both the 60- and 200-meter races at
the Big Ten's indoor conference meet, so if he can
get past Notre Dame's first level he'll be off to the
races. However, a weak 2013 Purdue offensive line
lost four of its starters this season, making it even
more of a liability.
Notre Dame's front seven may be young, but it
is also very talented, led by junior defensive line-
After producing 128 all-purpose yards in the season opener versus Western Michigan, senior running back
Akeem Hunt ranked 12th among active players in the FBS with 3,428 all-purpose yards in his career.
PHOTO COURTESY PURDUE
