'Crazy legs' Devin Mockobee carving out path as Purdue football's top running back

WEST LAFAYETTE – Devin Mockobee is standing on a beach in Florida, waiting to watch his mother, Rachel, go through her marriage ceremony. His phone rings.

“ ‘Hey, man, this is coach (Chris) Barclay from Purdue. Watched your video, love what you do, and I see you're committed to Navy. Would you have any interest in coming to Purdue and maybe playing in the Big Ten?’ ”

This was the summer of 2021 two weeks before the Boonville star running back, who collected more than 3,500 career rushing yards in high school, was scheduled to leave for Annapolis, a school he committed to a year earlier since the Midshipmen were his best offer.

But the Purdue offer – even as a walk-on – quickly became the best opportunity in his mind.

“Purdue was my dream school from the start,” Mockobee said. “If I could’ve had a chance to go there from the beginning, I always wanted to take that.”

Two years later, he’s at the top of the depth chart as the Boilermakers return to action Saturday against Iowa at Ross-Ade Stadium.

'Crazy legs'

Mockobee – who earned the nickname “Crazy legs” from coach Jeff Brohm based on his running style - is leading the Boilermakers in rushing after surpassing the 100-yard mark in three of the last four games.

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He scored his first rushing touchdown against Indiana State and the next week at Syracuse, even though he finished with 22 rushing yards. With King Doerue out for four games, Mockobee became part of the regular rotation along with Dylan Downing and Kobe Lewis, a transfer from Central Michigan.

And Mockobee fully introduced himself to the Big Ten and the nation with an electrifying 68-yard run, followed by a touchdown, to seal the Oct. 1 victory at Minnesota.

“It made me feel so happy,” offensive lineman Marcus Mbow said. “I knew the game was over after that. I just started chasing after him to see if I can catch him.”

Mbow didn’t catch him. And it’s been difficult for opposing teams to corral the 6-foot, 195-pound former Indiana state champion in the long jump as a senior. He rushed for a season-high 178 yards against Nebraska and gained 108 yards in Purdue’s last game at Wisconsin.

And he’s still a walk-on but a scholarship is coming. Downing is also a walk-on and proved his worth throughout this season, rushing for 113 yards against Florida Atlantic. One week later, Mockobee gained 112 against the Golden Gophers.

“Normally as you go into the fall, you have your 85 scholarships tied up and there’s nothing you can do until after the semester,” Brohm said. “That’s the issue; not only for us, but other people are dealing with. Normally people earn their scholarships by their play on the field, and you wait until the season is over and do your part to reward them.

“Dylan and Devin and anybody who gets on the field and does a really good job, we want to do our part to help them get on scholarship if they’re a walk-on.”

'Why doesn't he have more?'

After Mockobee hung up the phone with Barclay, he watched his mother’s wedding ceremony, but his mind was working overtime. His dream scenario came true since he loved Purdue but had made a commitment to Navy, which is more than just a four-year pledge.

“My mom is sitting there freaking out and I’m just ecstatic,” Mockobee said.

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Barclay encouraged Mockobee to hang up and attend his mother’s wedding. The two connected later and began the process of trying to bring him to West Lafayette with no promises of a scholarship when he had one locked up with Navy.

“He was fired up,” Barclay said. “He was kind of trying to figure out how to tell Navy because he was supposed to be there two weeks from that date. That was tough, but I was so excited. He made the choice to come here.”

Why was Barclay so enamored with Mockobee?

As the veteran assistant started his research, Mockobee was listed on the all-state team and digging deeper discovered his state championship in the long jump and runner-up finish in the 110 hurdles.

“That speaks to his endurance, good long strides and speed,” Barclay said.

But still no significant offers other than from Navy. He was puzzled.

“What’s wrong with this guy? Why doesn’t he have more?” Barclay asked himself.

One of his best high school games came against Gibson Southern, which is where current Purdue quarterback Brady Allen played. He rolled up 419 yards on 28 carriers and five touchdowns during a 43-35 loss but not even the impressive performance opened more eyes.

“I watched the game against Gibson Southern,” Barclay said. “That’s hard to do on a video game. That speaks to his savvy and how he sees the game.”

Running style

All the moves, the cutback runs and breaking tackles that were on display in 2020 are the same in 2022 as a member of the Boilermakers. His ability to see the field, avoid defenders, and twist and contort his body in another direction shows how dynamic Mockobee is and will be throughout his career with more experience.

“I see it every day in practice,” Downing said. “I’m just glad he gets to put it on display for the whole country.”

Last spring, Mockobee had a run that caught Barclay’s attention. And everyone else who saw it.

He actually injured his hamstring on the play, but Barclay said Mockobee “made a cut that I haven’t seen many people make. He was able to gain some ground – he got about a 2-yard vertical cut and then he immediately went lateral to get outside of the play-side backer. There was nothing in-between and I was like, ‘Wow.’ That’s difficult to do for anybody.”

'He's slippery'

“Crazy legs” is just one nickname given to Mockobee. There’s also soap.

“He’s slippery,” Barclay said.

There’s float like a butterfly, sting like a Mockobee.

“I’ve got a bunch of them,” Barclay added.

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Those legs make it difficult for the offensive linemen to know exactly where Mockobee is going.

“I have no idea,” Mbow said. “You saw it against FAU – he ran right into me. I have no idea where he is. He is all over the place, but I love it.”

Mockobee is far from a finished product. He’s improved his pass-catching skills out of the backfield, averaging 10 yards a reception, but still needs work in pass protection.

To maintain his speed and quickness, Mockobee’s future playing weight could reach 205, giving him the added strength to take on linebackers and safeties looking to blitz.

But his natural ability to see the field and punish defenders for over-pursuing is a trait that will never go away.

“He excels in space,” Barclay said. “He’s slippery enough and narrow enough to get lost in the cracks and crevices inside. It’s very difficult to locate him in traffic. In space, he’s able to change direction on a drop of a dime and he leaves a lot of defenders sliding into second base. It’s beautiful to see.”

Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier and USA Today Sports Network. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @carmin_jc

Iowa (4-4, 2-3) at Purdue (5-3, 3-2)

Saturday

Time: Noon

TV: Fox Sports 1

Radio: WAZY (96.5)

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Iowa at Purdue football: Running back Devin Mockobee carving out path