Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
This walk-on was a big contributor on special teams last season.
Today we have another walk-on wide receiver that is very promising. In fact, he even played a little bit last year on special teams.
Alex Hilger – So. (RS)
Natick, Massachusetts (Natick HS)
6’2″, 196 pounds
Wide Receiver
2016 Projection: Special Teams contributor
Hilger may not see time at receiver because that is one of Purdue’s deeper positions, but he will likely be seen quite a bit on special teams. Last season as a redshirt freshman he saw action in all 12 games as a member of the kickoff team. He even got in on five tackles, which led all walk-ons that played.
ESPN Boston had a lot of positive things to say about him when he agreed to come to Purdue:
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder was hampered by injuries in each of his last two seasons with the Redhawks, but gave his intent to join the Boilermakers with preferred walk-on status, announcing his decision Sunday via Twitter.
“I really felt that hindered my recruiting process immensely,” Hilger said of his bouts with shoulder injuries in his junior and senior years. “I feel like I would have found some scholarship offers, and there was nothing.”
Hilger held offers from Assumption and Stonehill, and UMass-Amherst had inquired, but he held out hope for catching on with a major FBS program. Redhawks head coach Mark Mortarelli had sent Hilger’s senior game film to more than 30 Division 1 programs, but had yet to hear back from any -€” that is until Purdue linebackers coach Marcus Freeman reached out to him.