Exit Interview series ($): Gelen Robinson | Da'Wan Hunte | Danny Ezechukwu

Soon after his arrival from junior college to Purdue in 2015, Anthony Mahoungou quickly built a reputation in West Lafayette as an incredibly dedicated worker.

Maybe not a supremely talented or natural receiver, but a guy who no doubt was going to spend every moment working to try to become one at the Big Ten level.

More than once during his career, Mahoungou wondered if he'd ever get the chance. He caught four passes in his debut against Marshall but rarely saw the field after that in 2015. In 2016, he was stuck behind DeAngelo Yancey, Domonique Young and Bilal Marshall. Entering 2017, a new coaching staff brought in JUCO options to, essentially, take those open starting jobs.

But Mahoungou started his season senior with the 1s and had his moments — good and bad. Ultimately the "bad" — drops against Rutgers in a shocking loss — got him benched. But, even then, Mahoungou never stopped doing extra, staying after practice under the lights catching balls and running routes.

So when Mahoungou finally got a chance again, he was able to deliver one of the most remarkable finishes to a career by a Purdue player in recent memory. In the final three games — victories against Iowa, Indiana and Arizona in the bowl game — Mahoungou caught 15 passes for 341 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner in Santa Clara, Calif.

But that final stretch wasn't why Mahoungou declared himself "happy" with his Purdue career. His journey was about much more than football, the senior said when he sat down with us recently for an "Exit Interview."