By Danielle Daniels

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue senior center Gus Hartwig landed on the Outland Trophy Watch List ahead of the 2023 season, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Tuesday (Aug. 1).

Hartwig was one of 12 centers on the watch list for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award.

Earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten all three years as a Boilermaker, Hartwig has been a focal point on the Purdue offensive line since coming to West Lafayette in 2020. The Zionsville, Indiana, native has played in 30 games over his collegiate career, starting 27 of them. Beginning with his sophomore season, Hartwig started 24 straight games before suffering an injury during the Northwestern game (Nov. 19, 2022) that sidelined him for the remainder of his junior year. During the 2022 campaign, his blocking helped the Boilermakers lead the Big Ten in passing while also paving the way for Devin Mockobee to set the Purdue freshman record for rushing yards in a single season (968).

Off the field, Hartwig has earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades twice. Later this month, he will graduate from Purdue with a degree in finance before pursuing a master’s degree in global supply chain management.

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