Purdy nominated for Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY

San Francisco 49ers quarterback and former Cyclone Brock Purdy is a finalist for an ESPY.

The soon-to-be second-year NFL quarterback is among the nominees for Best Breakthrough Athlete at this year’s award show scheduled for July 12 in Los Angeles. Purdy starred at Iowa State from 2018-21 before being taken with the last pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by San Francisco.

Purdy then burst onto the scene as a rookie in San Francisco’s last six games, leading the team for a 5-0 record as a starter in the regular season, while posting 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions and completing better than 67 percent of his passes.

The Arizona native helped San Francisco reach the NFC Championship game with playoff wins over Seattle and Dallas, but an elbow injury in the NFC title game against the Philadelphia Eagles severely hampered the 49er offense and left Purdy in need of off-season surgery.

The other finalist for Best Breakthrough Athlete are Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark, LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese and Seattle Mariners star outfielder Julio Rodriguez.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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