A former Purdue running back is joining the coaching staff.

On Wednesday, head coach Jeff Brohm announced that DJ Knox has joined the Boilermakers staff as a graduate assistant. Knox spent five seasons as a player at Purdue and played for Brohm in 2017 and 2018. Both years Purdue reached a bowl game.

Knox played during the 2014 and 2015 seasons under former head coach Darrell Hazell and missed the 2016 season because of an ACL injury suffered in the team’s spring game. His final season in West Lafayette was his most productive.

In 2018, Knox rushed for 883 yards and 8 touchdowns while also totaling 180 receiving yards and an additional touchdown. He was part of a Purdue team that upset No. 2 Ohio State and finished the regular season 6-6, making a trip to the Music City Bowl.

Knox ended his career at Purdue with 1,853 rushing yards, 423 receiving yards and accounted for 15 total touchdowns.