Eagles’ Jalen Hurts relives epic college game against 49ers’ Brock Purdy.

By Nasdass January 26, 2023 Sports 0 Comments

PHILADELPHIA − Brock Purdy may be considered a surprise to many, as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback went from being the last player drafted last spring — the so-called “Mr. Irrelevant” – to the 49ers third quarterback.

Yet here’s Purdy, starting Sunday in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line after leading the 49ers to the last 7 of their 12-game winning streak.

This has all the makings of the ultimate Cinderella story, considering that when the season began, it was another rookie, Trey Lance, who was poised to be the franchise quarterback. Lance was selected third overall last spring, 259 spots ahead of Purdy.

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The 49ers also had Jimmy Garoppolo, the former franchise quarterback who took the 49ers to the Super Bowl three years ago, as their backup.

Both suffered season-ending injuries — Lance broke his ankle in September and Garoppolo suffered a foot injury in December.

But there are three Eagles, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, who have already seen Purdy’s potential firsthand.

That goes back to an epic game during Hurts’ 2019 senior season at Oklahoma and Purdy, then a sophomore, at Iowa State.

On that November 9th, it looked like Hurts and the heavily favored No. 9 Sooners would be cruising. Hurts was masterful in the first half as Oklahoma built a 42-21 lead late in the third quarter.

But Purdy and the Cyclones come roaring back. Purdy threw a potential game-tying touchdown pass with 24 seconds left. Iowa State went for the two-point conversion and fell short when Purdy threw an interception.

Oklahoma walked off the field with a 42-41 win.

“It was a good game, we’re glad we won,” Hurts said Wednesday. “I have a lot of respect for him. He’s always been a really good player, he’s got a lot of hustle. He makes plays. And he’s been doing it since college, so it’s no surprise that he’s getting this opportunity to see him succeed now.”

Call him ‘Mr. Relevant’

Defensive end Matt Leo, who is on the Eagles’ practice squad, spent three seasons with Purdy at Iowa State. He said he had no idea why Purdy wasn’t drafted until the last pick.

“They should call him ‘Mr. Relevant,'” Leo said with a laugh. “He always seemed cool and calm and collected. It’s just his nature. I remember when he came straight out of high school. He was already working out before the semester started.

“When I saw that competitiveness in him, I knew what he would bring to the team.”

Purdy became a starter as a true freshman and had his best season as a sophomore, throwing for 3,982 yards and 31 TDs. That season, Hurts finished second in Heisman voting and led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff. Hurts threw for 3,851 yards and ran for 1,298 more.

So Leo had his own worries and was trying to stop Hurts. On the day, Hurts completed 18 of 26 passes for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had 68 yards rushing on 22 carries with 2 touchdowns. That’s a total of 341 yards and 5 TDs.

“He’s got a lot of tricks,” Leo said of Hurts’ pursuit that day. “He’s just an escape artist. You know, when you’re going to push him, everybody has to be (in their lanes). Otherwise, he can play.”

Leo was then asked if that carried over to the NFL now that he has to chase down Hurts in practice.

“Even more,” Leo said. “He’s still the quiet, humble competitor that he is. He can make plays immediately, his ability to make plays lasts. He’s almost like a backup plan.”

Purdy was equally impressive. He went 19 for 30 for 282 yards and 5 TDs. Purdy added 55 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. So that’s a total of 337 yards and 6 TDs.

Eagles running back Trey Sermon played for Oklahoma that day, though he left in the second quarter with a torn knee ligament, so he said he doesn’t remember much about the game.

But Sermon was a third-round pick of the 49ers in 2021 and spent spring practices and training camp with them before being waived and picked up by the Eagles.

“He can make plays with his feet,” Sermon said. “He did a good job of extending plays back then. I saw him get better and better. Then I saw him in camp and also at OTAs in San Fran. I knew he’d be a good quarterback if given the opportunity.”

Over the final five games of the regular season, Purdy threw for 1,374 yards, completing 67.1% of his passes, with 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. His passer rating was 107.3, which would have led the NFL had he played enough games to qualify.

Projecting for a full 17-game season, Purdy would throw for 4,671 yards. That would rank him fourth behind Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Tom Brady.

No wonder Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni called Purdy a “winner.” And Sirianni also knew Purdy long before he hit the NFL.

Putting together an MVP year

That’s because Sirianni was teammates with Iowa State coach Matt Campbell in college at Mount Union, and when they talked, Campbell raved about Purdy.

“Obviously, I’m always watching Iowa State and their program because I have so many roommates and roommates that train there,” Sirianni said. “You saw what (Purdy) did for this program. (I would) check the score, Purdy had an amazing game and they won again. He’s a winner.”

It hurts too. Combined, Hurts and Purdy are 22-1 in games they have started this season.

Hurts was named an MVP finalist by the Associated Press on Wednesday, along with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

It’s easy to see why.

Hurts threw for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 INTs and a 66.5% completion percentage. Hurts’ 101.5 passer rating is fourth. Hurts also has 760 yards with 13 TDs.

“It’s a great honor,” Hurts said of being named a finalist. “I don’t have much to say about it. To be honest, I don’t have anything to say.”

Hurts prefers to let his play do the talking, much like he and Purdy did more than three years ago.

Purdy threw three TD passes in that 20-point fourth quarter and went 5-for-9 for 90 yards. He also added 36 yards in that span.

“He’s always looking down,” Campbell told reporters that day. “He’s always trying to extend the play. You’ve got that guy one-on-one and you’re missing him. All of a sudden it’s a critical throw and he throws the ball on the money. Some people just have it.” and it does.

“He’s going to get better and better.”

But it was Hurts’ interception late in the fourth quarter that led to Iowa State’s potential game-winning touchdown.

After the game, Hurts told The Oklahoman what was going through his mind as he followed Purdy’s pass into the end zone for the two-point conversion. The pass was intended for Charlie Kolar but was intercepted by Parnell Motley.

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