BisonBacker
July 27th, 2008, 07:43 AM
Darius Purcell is coming to Fargo. Transfer from Illinois with 4 years of eligibility, only FCS schools he originally looked at before going to Illinois were NDSU and Appy. Looks like NDSU will get him now anyway. Not sure what happened at Illinois to prompt the transfer, only time will tell how it works out for him but he sounds like a good player with a nose for the ball. NDSU plans on using him on offense as a RB.
From ESPN here is more info
Purcell is a safety/outside linebacker hybrid with excellent ball skills and a natural nose for the football. He plays wide receiver on offense and is a playmaker, but he will end up at strong safety in college. He is at his best in run support when cheated up near the line of scrimmage. He does a nice job of sifting though the wash and getting to the ball. Takes proper angles, shows good diagnose skills and is a sound tackler. He shows explosive burst to the ball and at times flashes some pop upon contact. He isn't very tall, but he plays big and has a sturdy build. He shwos good foot speed and quick feet to be able to change directions and react to what is in front of him. However, Purcell is not a guy you want in a lot of coverage situations in the secondary. He is a short strider and does not show great hip flexibility. He would be adequate holding up versus backs and tight ends, but would struggle against top slots and WR's. He has a great demeanor and has all the makings of a special teams demon. If he is in the right role, he could be productive. Overall, Purcell may not have the measurbales you like or top end speed, but he does show a good feel for the game.
From ESPN here is more info
Purcell is a safety/outside linebacker hybrid with excellent ball skills and a natural nose for the football. He plays wide receiver on offense and is a playmaker, but he will end up at strong safety in college. He is at his best in run support when cheated up near the line of scrimmage. He does a nice job of sifting though the wash and getting to the ball. Takes proper angles, shows good diagnose skills and is a sound tackler. He shows explosive burst to the ball and at times flashes some pop upon contact. He isn't very tall, but he plays big and has a sturdy build. He shwos good foot speed and quick feet to be able to change directions and react to what is in front of him. However, Purcell is not a guy you want in a lot of coverage situations in the secondary. He is a short strider and does not show great hip flexibility. He would be adequate holding up versus backs and tight ends, but would struggle against top slots and WR's. He has a great demeanor and has all the makings of a special teams demon. If he is in the right role, he could be productive. Overall, Purcell may not have the measurbales you like or top end speed, but he does show a good feel for the game.