Oct 6, 2018; Stillwater, OK, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy (15) passes while defended by Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive end Mike Scott (91) during the second half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Brock Purdy will most likely be Iowa State’s starting quarterback when No. 6 West Virginia visits Jack Trice Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday, that is assuming Kyle Kempt still isn’t available after missing the last four games due to a knee injury.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said on Monday’s Big 12 Teleconference that Purdy will be the Cyclones’ starter under-center if Kempt is still not ready to get back on the field against the Mountaineers.
“We’re waiting to see where Kyle’s at. Kyle was able to practice on Sunday. If Kyle isn’t ready to go, you would see Brock start,” Campbell said. “It’s a little unsettled right now… As long as Kyle’s health is where it is at right now, I would see (Purdy getting the start) happening.”
Purdy threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns on 18-of-23 passing in his first extended collegiate playing time during Iowa State’s 48-42 win over No. 25 Oklahoma State. The true freshman from Arizona replaced starter Zeb Noland after one possession with the Cyclones trailing 7-0.
Purdy’s performance has earned him numerous national honors, including being named the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Week, and, potentially, the right to start what could be one of the Cyclones’ biggest games of the season.
He would be the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Cyclones since Todd Bandhauer in 1995.
“Obviously, his ability to use his feet at times to at least slow the flow of the defense down, I think, is big,” Campbell said. “Brock is a young man that played in that style of offense in high school and had great success. He allows at least some misdirection to occur in terms of offensive football.”
Other Notes
*** Star tailback David Montgomery remains day-to-day with a deep bruise in his upper arm that kept him out the Cyclones’ win over the Cowboys. At this point, the staff hasn’t put much consideration into sitting Montgomery against West Virginia and giving him an extra week to rest with the Cyclones’ bye week approaching.
“I don’t even know if we’ve thought like that. I just think the biggest thing with David is its been a day-to-day situation,” Campbell said. “Trying to get him back to full strength. I think the thing that we’re not naive about is we’re never going to put a young man whose not 100 percent healthy back on the field. We’ve got a great training staff here so I think they kind of tell us yay or nay and David is a really good communicator so I think those things help us make the best decision really for him first and foremost.”
