Gus Hartwig always dreamed of playing football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Or at least he thought so.
“I was a Nebraska fan when I was younger,” Hartwig confessed during last week’s Big Ten Media Days. “My dad grew up in Nebraska and was a Nebraska fan.”
Hartwig’s father played offensive tackle at Ball State, while Gus grew up in Zionsville, just a 45-minute drive from Purdue’s campus.
“As I entered the recruiting process, I didn’t quite grasp how far Nebraska is from Indianapolis,” Hartwig explained.
He Also Hartwig said. “Eight hours, maybe that’s a little bit further than I want to go. Purdue was probably the best spot for me to end up.” Time proved that, indeed, Purdue was the best situation for Hartwig.
In 2020, during a six-game conference-only schedule, Hartwig became the first true freshman starter on Purdue’s offensive line since 2008.
He started every game as a sophomore and 11 games as a junior before an injury ended his season.
The ongoing effects of that injury sidelined Hartwig at the beginning of last season, but he started the last nine games and received All-Big Ten honorable mention for the fourth time in his career.
Even at less than full strength, it was no surprise that Hartwig earned conference recognition.
“He’s someone who has had a significant impact on the team,” said quarterback Hudson Card. “He’s an exceptional center, a very intelligent player, a great leader, and an incredible person.”
wever, Hartwig faced a decision that wasn’t particularly difficult for him. With a year of eligibility left, many players in his position might consider the transfer portal.
Just four days after the Boilermakers ended their 2023 season with a victory over rival Indiana, Hartwig announced that he would return for a fifth season in gold and black.
Once a hopeful recruit for Nebraska, Hartwig had fully embraced his identity as a Boilermaker and couldn’t envision playing anywhere else.
“I didn’t grow up a Purdue fan, but now I identify as a Purdue guy,” Hartwig said. “This is where I want to be and where I want to play.”
More importantly, he felt he had unfinished business.
During his junior year, Hartwig sustained a leg injury in November and missed the regular-season finale against Indiana, as well as the Big Ten Championship game against Michigan and the Citrus Bowl against LSU.
His offseason focus was not just on getting healthy but rather on rehabilitating to return to the field.
Over the past eight months, Hartwig has been preparing to start 2024 at full health, free from restrictions and the long hours of rehab behind him.
“For Hartwig, entering the offseason healthy was an exciting opportunity,” said Ryan Walters, Purdue’s second-year head coach. “He recognized the positive direction the program is headed and wanted to contribute to it. He has been a key presence in the locker room for a long time and has earned the respect of his teammates.
“Given the number of offensive linemen we’ve brought in, it’s beneficial to have someone with his experience and understanding of the game and our system to lead that unit on the field.”
Despite having a master’s degree, Hartwig’s primary motivation for returning was grounded in unfinished business.
“I came in during my first year when we weren’t very good and went 2-4 in the COVID year, which was quite unusual,” Hartwig recalled. “The following year, we won the Music City Bowl, and the year after that, we reached the Big Ten Championship game.
“Last year, we didn’t achieve what we aimed for. I want to leave this place better than I found it, and I hope to contribute to leaving it in a stronger position than when I arrived five years ago, helping Coach Walters and the team build this legacy.”
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