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Tony Purvis to be a Wildcat
McCook senior commits to Kansas State
Tony Purvis did not get much sleep Thursday night -- he had a good reason though.
Thoughts of getting a full-ride NCAA Division I football scholarship offer danced in Purvis' head and stomach all night.
Friday at the KICX/KBRL radio studios on Rich Barnett's morning show, Purvis announced that he intends to sign a letter of intent to play football at Kansas State University from the highly-touted Big 12 Conference -- a league that also features the likes of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and NCAA national champion Texas.
Purvis will officially sign his scholarship offer during the official signing period the first week of February.
Kansas State features a new head coach in Ron Prince, who was hired to replace the legendary Bill Snyder, who retired after 17 seasons in Manhattan.
Purvis will be the first McCook High School football player to sign a NCAA Division I scholarship offer since Jeff Kinney inked with Nebraska in the late 60s, said Bison coach Jeff Gross, who accompanied Purvis to the radio station Friday.
"We've had kids walk on (at Division I programs)," Gross said. "This is a pretty proud town and a pretty proud school. It's nice to get the kids recognized out here."
Purvis is extremely excited about his opportunity and the point was driven home when Barnett played the Kansas State fight song twice. He is projected as a cornerback and kick returner by the Wildcats' coaching staff.
"I was looking at Idaho and Northern Colorado (NCAA Division I-AA)," Purvis said. "But I've always wanted to play Division I football."
Other schools were interested in Purvis, said Gross, such as South Dakota State, Washburn and Ohio (coached by former Nebraska coach Frank Solich).
Purvis solidified his position as a Division I prospects by participating in several camps, including a Kansas State camp, but there was still some uncertainity.
"I was kind of wondering the last two weeks," he said.
Purvis, 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, quarterbacked the Bison football to two straight Class B state second-place finishes and was a defensive starter for three seasons, including the state championship team of 2003.
During those three seasons, McCook posted a 37-2 record.
Purvis rushed for 1,145 yards, passed for 845 and scored 16 touchdowns in 2005. In 2004, he rushed for 706 yards, passed for 879 and scored nine TDs. In 2003, he rushed for 139 yards and passed for 52.
On defense, Purvis intercepted just three passes in 2005 but that's because defenses would not throw his direction.
"I called coach Gumb -- this is a testament to him (as the Bison defensive backs coach)," Gross said. "Coaches told us that Tony was the most technically sound defensive back they have seen. He has the right height and the right speed."
Purvis drove to Manhattan Friday for meetings, and the Kansas State coaches will pay Purvis a home visit in McCook.
Purvis, the son of Mark and Kathleen Eiler and the late Chris Purvis, said he will likely major in business at Kansas State.
In addition to Purvis' announcement, McCook's Brendan Liess has verbally committed to play football at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Liess, who rushed for more than 3,000 yards and scored 49 TDs his sophomore and junior seasons, suffered a season-ending knee injury his senior year.
Gross added that Bison seniors Brandon Kotschwar, Jeff Klug and Garrett Rippen are also on the verge of making commitments.