Purdue football's Andrew Sowinski prepared to do 'whatever they ask me to do' to win

WEST LAFAYETTE — Plug and play.

It's the role Purdue senior receiver Andrew Sowinski has embraced.

"I think it was just trying to always be ready and try to be knowledgeable about what I'm doing," said Sowinski, a fifth-year senior who came to Purdue as a walk-on from Indiana high school powerhouse Chatard and is now on scholarship. "That helped me kind of stick around and helped me carve out a role."

What is that role?

"Whatever they ask me to do," Sowinski said.

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In the past, that's meant a myriad of things.

Sowinski has been a punt returner, a pass catcher, a blocker and about everything in between.

"He’s one of those dudes who is where he’s supposed to be when he’s supposed to be there all the time," receivers coach Cory Patterson said. "Those things, you can’t put a price on those things."

Because of Sowinski's intangibles, combined with five years on Purdue's roster, he's become a leader.

Of Purdue's 18 receivers , Sowinski is the lone holdover from the Jeff Brohm era before Brohm took the Louisville job prior to last season.

Sowinski's dedication to details and willingness to embrace any task caught the attention of Brohm's successor Ryan Walters just as it did with the previous regime.

"He’s not afraid to hold people accountable and when he’s out there, he does things the way they’re supposed to be done," Walters said of Sowinski. "When his number is called, he is there to answer the bell. He’s a great example for not only his room, but just everybody on the team."

Now Sowinski, whose only three catches last season all came in the same game to help Purdue to a November victory over Minnesota , figures to have a larger role in the offense.

"I think it's just availability," Sowinski said. "If I can keep myself out there and healthy and ready to go, then I'm there for whatever they need me to do. If they need me to block, catch a pass, catch a punt, I'll do it."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football's Andrew Sowinski prepared to do 'whatever they ask me to do' to win