Dallas Cowboys Writers Recognize Former Purdue OL Gus Hartwig as Shrine Bowl Star
Former Purdue offensive lineman Gus Hartwig was named a “Day 1 standout” at the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl practices by writers covering the Dallas Cowboys.
Purdue Boilermakers offensive lineman Gus Hartwig (53) observes a drill / Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
In this story:
Former Purdue offensive lineman Gus Hartwig quickly caught the attention of several NFL teams. The former Boilermaker was selected as one of the “standouts” after the first day of practices at the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, according to writers for the Dallas Cowboys.
Throughout his five-year career, Hartwig was a key player on Purdue’s offensive line, and he aimed to demonstrate his versatility to NFL scouts during his time at the Shrine Bowl in Arlington, Texas. His performance so far has been promising.
“Saturday was an excellent opportunity to assess the one-on-one drills in the trenches. Hartwig stood out as the most impressive on day one,” wrote Tommy Yarrish and Kyle Youmans of DallasCowboys.com. “His technique and hand placement were solid, maintaining a strong base with an impressive initial punch. He carried that success into a solid team period performance.”
Hartwig played 48 games for the Boilermakers, primarily at center. At the Shrine Bowl, he is eager to show teams he can also play both center and guard, which could enhance his value heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.
“My versatility — my ability to play guard,” Hartwig told The League Winners when asked about his goals during Shrine Bowl practices. “I haven’t played much guard recently, but I’m excited to prove I can compete against these top players.”
A native of Zionsville, Ind., Hartwig was part of Purdue’s 2022 team, which won the Big Ten West and advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game. While Purdue struggled in recent years, Hartwig remained a standout on the offensive line.
The NFL Draft process is still in its early stages, but Hartwig’s performance at the Shrine Bowl is certainly a positive sign. We’ll see if he continues to earn recognition from other teams throughout the week.
The 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl is set for Thursday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and the game will be broadcast on NFL Network.
