• Slug: Sports-Perry Purdy, 590 words
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By JALEN FONG
Cronkite News

GILBERT — Tough decisions are commonplace in life. Picking the perfect university can feel like a never-ending dilemma.

Image being Brock Purdy, senior quarterback from Perry High School, who has college coaches from around the country chasing him.

“As far as college goes, a lot of people have been chirping like, ‘You need to go here, you need to go there,’ but I knew that if I waited it out after the first signing day, stuff would start rolling through and it’s picked up now,” Purdy said.

Purdy, unlike many others in the state, was not sought after by many universities right out of the gate. Despite his standout play for the Pumas the past two seasons, he received just two offers: Northern Arizona and Montana State, both Division I-AA programs.

“I just knew that I had worked hard enough to play at a Power-5 level,” Purdy said. “I just stayed strong, believed in what my abilities are and eventually someone would believe in me and my talent level.”

Plenty did.

With National Signing Day looming, universities from across the country are now pursuing the once-unheralded quarterback who led Perry to the 6A title game and was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Arizona.

He has been offered scholarships from 11 universities, stretching from Boise State to Central Florida, and most notably, Alabama. ASU had gauged interest but Purdy declined their offer, coach Preston Jones said. A representative from Arizona visited Purdy and his family last week.

Though his mindset was steadfast along with his confidence, many of those close to Purdy viewed the omission as a sign of disrespect. In the end, they knew what Purdy had was the ability to stand out from the rest of the pack.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have mature quarterbacks (at Perry High School), and Brock certainly fits that mold,” Perry coach Preston Jones said. “I think he’s handled this recruiting process, or lack of coming into the first signing day, with grace and is humbled by the opportunity presented to him now.”

While Purdy may have appeared to be collected, many around him, including his parents, were distraught by the lack of attention he was getting from college recruiters.

“It never seemed to bother him (the lack of attention), but I know coaches, and especially his parents, were frustrated,” Jones said. “We see all the other kids here in Arizona getting national exposure and we just knew that he was just as good, or in some cases even better, and could play at that level.”

Coaches around the Valley knew of Purdy’s athleticism and decision-making skills, which helped make Perry a prominent team. In his final two years as a starter, Purdy accumulated a 23-4 record with all four losses coming to two-time 6A champion Chandler High School.

Chandler coach Shaun Aguano said that even though his squad was able to get the best of Perry, getting to Purdy proved quite difficult.

“He possesses such poise. You can’t really rattle him,” Aguano said. “You know that they trust him, which allows him to take command of his team.”

Aguano says that his ability to throw the football, particularly his arm strength, is what will help Purdy next year.

“He has the moxie and intangibles of a quarterback that can compete and win at the next level.”

Purdy looks to make his choice before Wednesday’s signing day.

“I‘ll make my final decision after my visits but I’ll do it here around my family and friends,” he said.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.