Getty Image
Former Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards is getting shredded for his selective memory on his recruitment of QB Brock Purdy. In an interview with ESPN Radio this week, he reflected on his experience with the Super Bowl starting passer while on the college circuit.
His recollection of events regarding the Sun Devils’ interest in Brock Purdy differs greatly from what actually played out.
In the ESPN segment, Herm Edwards recalled scouting the quarterback while roaming the sidelines in Tempe. Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports broke his response down in a recently published story.
Edwards claims to have recruited Purdy as part of the 2018 class.
“I laugh at people when they say he’s a game manager,” Edwards said. “I recruited the kid when he came out of high school. I saw what kind of quarterback he was. He didn’t come to us. He went to Iowa.”
After review, that doesn’t necessarily seem to be the case.
Outside of the fact that Edwards got Purdy’s actual school incorrect (he suited up for the Hawkeyes’ rival Iowa State), a timeline of the quarterback’s recruitment tells a different story – He was never offered by ASU!
Arizona State never offered Brock Purdy!
According to 24/7 Sports, Brock Purdy landed offers from a few big names to include Texas A&M, Illinois, and Kansas. He also had scholarships extended by UCF, UNLV, and Boise State, among others.
Iowa State ultimately offered in January of 2018, and the signal caller committed on Signing Day in February.
What that means is Purdy wasn’t an early enrollee. Arizona State had the full cycle to make a move and never did.
While the staff might’ve been in contact with the signal caller at some point, the Sun Devils pursued other options at the position. Herm Edwards alluded to their signing of Jayden Daniels, a member of the 2019 class.
“I ended up getting a pretty good guy in Jayden Daniels, so it all worked out.”
While Edwards has revisionist history on his personal recruitment of Brock Purdy, he was complimentary of the quarterback heading into the Super Bowl.
“At the end of the day, I think he’s proven to everybody that he’s more than just a game manager. He is actually a really good quarterback.”
After leading a major comeback against the Lions, Purdy will turn his attention to Kansas City.