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Purvis finally got the offer he wanted
By
Sammy Batten
©2016 Bonesville.net
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Recruiting Class of 2016 Thumbnail Sketches...
Raequan Purvis took a gamble that
paid off with an opportunity he'd dreamed about.
A defensive end/linebacker from tiny
Plymouth, a town of about 4,000 residents in Northeastern North
Carolina, Purvis had wanted to play for East Carolina since making the
high school varsity as a freshman. The Pirates had some interest as
Purvis's senior season unfolded, but a scholarship offer never
materialized.
So the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder
entertained other options before deciding he'd likely accept a
scholarship to play for a North Carolina A&T program that went 10-2 and
finished ranked 21st in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2015.
Then came the coaching change at ECU
with Duke offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery coming aboard in
December to replace Ruffin McNeill as the Pirates' head man.
“The old staff was recruiting him as
a linebacker,'' Plymouth defensive coordinator Cory Crossen said. “But
the last conversation we had with coach Wiley (former ECU associate head
and linebackers coach John), he (Purvis) was like the third (linebacker)
guy on their board.
“But within about two weeks of the
new staff coming in, we resent his highlight reel to Coach Montgomery.
The defensive coordinator (Kenwick Thompson) came to our school last
week to visit him and the next thing you know they're invited him up for
an official visit.''
Despite Thompson's interest, Purvis
still had no offer from ECU. He did have offers from A&T and Norfolk
State, which caused some uncertainty about whether he should accept the
offer to visit Greenville.
“He was stuck between the guarantee
offer from A&T versus going to ECU where he was uncertain about what was
happening. But I told him, 'You've got nothing to lose if you go to East
Carolina. That's where you've always wanted to go. If they tell you no,
you'll still have the other offers.''
Montgomery waited until Purvis was
about to depart at the end of his visit to bring him inside the Ward
Sports Medicine Building and extend a scholarship offer. Purvis accepted
on the spot to become one of the newest members of ECU's
recruiting Class of 2016.
Purvis's pledge was part of a
whirlwind three-day recruiting blitz by Montgomery and his coaching
staff between January 30 and February 1 that netted six verbal
commitments.
None was more appreciative of his
scholarship offer from ECU than Purvis, who helped Plymouth produce a
14-2 record and a state 1-A title as a senior. He contributed to the
28-20 win against Robbinsville in the state final by collecting seven
tackles in the championship game.
The performance capped a prep career
that began four years ago when Purvis showed up for his first workout
with Vikings.
“He was a kid who passed the eye test
even as a freshman,'' Crossen said. “We knew over time, if he got in the
weight room, worked hard and developed, he could turn into something
really special. And that's kind of what happened.''
Purvis received playing time as a
defensive line reserve during his freshman season before earning a
starting job in the 10th grade. Playing a hybrid defensive
end-linebacker position as a junior, Purvis crossed the threshold into
star player for Plymouth when he made 135 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss
and a sack.
During the Vikings' run to the state
championship, Purvis made 157 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, a sack and
an interception. Crossen said a great example of Purvis's impact on
Plymouth's team occurred in the state finals.
“He set the tone for us on the first
couple of plays,'' Crossen said. “We ran a blitz on the first play and
he smashes right through to drop the runner in the backfield. The next
play we called a stunt for him and the defensive end and he made another
tackle for loss. At that point, everybody just rallied around Raequan
and that made them really believe they could win a state championship
that day.''
But Purvis's contributions at
Plymouth weren't limited to defense. He also saw action at tight end on
offense and completed his prep career with 41 catches for 567 yards and
five touchdowns.
Defensive line, however, appears to
be the position Purvis will play at East Carolina.
“Right now size-wise and mentally,
he's ready to play right away,'' Crossen said. “Physically, there might
be a little more difference. But he's a very focused young man … has
been since day one here. He told us when he got here his goal was to
make it to the NFL. From the time he got here as a freshman, he's
written 'D-I Purvis'' on the tape above his locker. He knew he wanted to
play college football, so he's done everything it takes. He's worked out
and got the job done in the classroom.''
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02/03/2016 02:06 AM |
