WEST LAFAYETTE — Gus Hartwig 's dream was to play football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Or so he thought.
"I was a Nebraska fan growing up," Hartwig admitted at last week's Big Ten Media Days . "My dad grew up in Nebraska, so he grew up a Nebraska fan."
Hartwig's dad ended up playing offensive tackle at Ball State and Hartwig grew up in Zionsville, a short 45-minute trek from Purdue's campus.
"Getting into the recruiting process, I maybe didn't realize how far away Nebraska is from Indianapolis," 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.
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During a six-game league only schedule in 2020, Hartwig became the first true freshman starter on Purdue's offensive line since 2008.
The center started every game as a sophomore and 11 as a junior before an injury ended his season.
The lingering effects of that injury kept Hartwig out of the lineup at the start of last season, but he started the final nine games, but he still was All-Big Ten honorable mention for a fourth time in his career.
Even at less than 100 percent, it's no surprise Hartwig received the conference accolades.
"He's one guy who has made a huge impact on the team," quarterback Hudson Card said. "He's unbelievable as a center, a super smart player and he's a great leader and a great person."
But, Hartwig had a decision that ultimately wasn't all that difficult. He had a year of eligibility remaining and for many in his situation, the transfer portal becomes a popular option.
Just four days after the Boilermakers finished their 2023 season with a win over rival Indiana, Hartwig announced he'd be back in gold and black for a fifth season.
The one time hopeful Husker became the prototypical Boilermaker and there wasn't anywhere else Hartwig could see himself playing.
"I didn't grow up a Purdue fan, but it's who I am now, a Purdue guy," Hartwig said. "This is where I want to be, where I want to play."
More importantly, Hartwig had unfinished business.
As a junior, Hartwig suffered a leg injury in November and didn't play the regular season finale at Indiana, in the Big Ten Championship game against Michigan or the Citrus Bowl versus LSU.
The offseason after was never about getting healthy. It was rehabbing to get healthy enough to play.
The last eight months, Hartwig has been preparing to enter 2024 at full health with no restrictions and now long hours in rehab.
"For him, being healthy going into an offseason was exciting for him," Purdue's second-year head coach Ryan Walters said. "He saw the direction the program was going and wanted to be a part of it. He's been a stalwart in the locker room for a long time and has earned the respect of his peers.
"With the amount of offensive linemen that we've added, it was good to have somebody with his expertise and his knowledge of the game and the system and how we want to operate to lead that group up front."
Master's degree aside, Hartwig's motive for returning leaned heavily on unfinished business.
"I come in my first year and we're not that good and go 2-4 in the COVID year, kind of a weird year," Hartwig recalled. "The next year we win the Music City Bowl and the next year we go to the Big Ten Championship game.
"Last year, we're not where we want to be. I want to leave the place better than where I found it, hopefully leaving in a better spot than when I came in five years ago and helping coach Walters and everybody build this legacy."
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 guy' Gus Hartwig returns to Boilermakers for 5th season with unfinished business
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