Exit Interview series ($): Danny Ezechukwu

More on Hunte: The B-Sides: Being an Omega Man

Da'Wan Hunte understood he had to wait.

With Ricardo Allen, Anthony Brown and Frankie Williams ahead of him on Purdue's depth chart, Hunte tried to adopt the right approach early in his career: Be quiet, listen, learn and work.

Hunte soaked up every bit of knowledge he could from that group, all of whom eventually had at least stints in the NFL, and when it was his turn to move into the No. 1 spot, he was ready.

He’d developed a “NFL mindset” toward preparation and practices, and that devotion to preparing at a high level showed up on Saturdays. And it also allowed him to earn coaches’ trust, and they, in turn, rarely took him off the field when he was healthy as a junior and senior.

But Hunte didn’t only showcase he could be a productive, steady player.

By the time Hunte finished his career with the Boilermakers, he'd been voted a team captain and allowed what he considered natural-born leadership skills to come out. His willingness to be vocal, at key times, played a critical role in Purdue's 7-6 season in 2017.

Hunte talked about those moments — giving a glimpse inside that locker room at Rutgers — and much more in our "Exit Interview."