The Athletic has a really good article about Brock Purdy and Iowa State. A few nuggets that really stuck out to me.
First, I have no clue why it took colleges so long to jump on this kid. Iowa State didn't offer him until January and then Alabama and aggie jumped on him too (UCF & Boise State had already offered). This kid is a winner and his high school results show that.
Second, this line about Purdy having a little bit of Baker Mayfield swagger to him really stuck out to me: "and Iowa State players and staffers say their head coach — a Cleveland Browns fan — sure does love Mayfield." Could Campbell be a candidate for Cleveland when the Browns fire Hue Jackson? I gotta admit...I wouldn't mind seeing Campbell leave the Big XII. I know he's been rumored as a replacement for Urban at Ohio State, and Iowa State to the NFL is a big jump, but the Browns could certainly do worse than Matt Campbell.
Finally, you gotta love the selflessness of Kyle Kempt. This is a kid who stepped in last year and had some real success. And now he's put that to the side for the good of the team and has taken the kid who replaced him under his wing. I always root for players like that. And, if Iowa State weren't in our conference, I would be rooting for them too. This is a tough, gutsy team.
A chemistry class in the Iowa State quarterback room
By Max Olson 1h ago 1
AMES, Iowa — The trend is crazy, and even Matt Campbell can admit it.
He tries his best to put this in gentler terms because Iowa State's head coach is a relentlessly positive guy. He says it's been interesting. He says it's not the easiest thing. But eventually he nods and concedes: Yeah, it is crazy.
Iowa State has had to use five different quarterbacks in its last 16 games. Jacob Park. Kyle Kempt. A few cameos from Joel Lanning. Zeb Noland. And now Brock Purdy.
So much change and unpredictability at that position would create chaos for a lot of college football programs. At Iowa State, they make it work. Campbell is building the Cyclones on a culture of consistency, even if they've yet to enjoy steady play at quarterback during their rise.
Purdy, their new true freshman starter, already looks like a future star and the long-term answer they've long sought. The way Campbell sees it, though, you can't tell the story of Purdy's emergence without first admiring the selflessness of the senior captain making this all possible.
The truth is, the reason the Cyclones have weathered their reliance on five quarterbacks in two years is Kempt. He was the key to their turnaround in 2017. Now he's doing it all over again, just in a different role. The way he's embraced Purdy has allowed this team to turn around its season.
"I think that's been one of the most powerful stories of our team from the inside," Campbell said in his office this week. "From the outside, there's a lot of stories people want to talk about. But the inside, it's been really Kyle's demeanor and his leadership."
Kempt's career has few parallels. He bounced from Oregon State to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College to Iowa State, spending four years on the bench. Then he led the Cyclones to a win at No. 3 Oklahoma last season and broke out as an unlikely leader of their resurgence. The NCAA waiver he received for this sixth year of eligibility had few precedents. Kempt's persistence and patience was rewarded with one final season. Then he went down with a knee injury in the season opener.
Kyle Kempt (17) has provided key leadership for the Cyclones in 2017 and 2018, albeit in different ways. (Peter G. Aiken / Getty Images)
He's close to returning from the MCL injury in his left knee that has kept him out for five games. But this has become Purdy's team, and Kempt has been mature enough to accept that.
He's put in late hours watching film with Purdy to get him ready to play. He's the first person Purdy talks with after each drive. He's leading by mentoring. Campbell says Kempt's dedication to making the best of this situation has had a trickle-down effect on the entire team.
"Kyle's leadership has been so imperative, to be honest with you, for our success," Campbell said. "I think if you asked Brock, his greatest asset has been Kyle Kempt. His leadership has been the spark that's kind of infused this football team a lot of ways, like it did a year ago.
"That's what a real senior does. That's what real leadership does. It's uncommon today. He's been nothing short of spectacular."
Iowa State actually signed Purdy in large part because of Kempt.
When Kempt replaced Park and beat the Sooners last season, the Iowa State staff immediately began pursuing the waiver for Kempt to get another year. But the uncertainty surrounding that attempt — both in the unlikely verdict and the unclear timetable — made Campbell and his coaches get serious about taking another QB in December.
Purdy had no Power 5 offers by the end of his senior season at Gilbert Perry High in Arizona, even though he threw for 4,405 yards, ran for 1,017 and scored 66 total touchdowns to earn Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Iowa State's recruiting staff had kept a list of quarterbacks to consider throughout the season. Taylor Mouser, one of Iowa State's assistant directors of scouting, hails from Chandler, Ariz., and kept Purdy at the top of the list.
"Brock's was the first film we watched," Campbell said. "I fell in love with it and literally called his high school coach after it and talked to him for about 45 minutes and then talked to Brock for about an hour after that."
What made Campbell fall in love with his senior tape so quickly?
"You know, I've been such a big Baker Mayfield fan from afar," he said. "One of the things that showed up in studying him and playing him the last two years and then watching Brock — not that he's Baker Mayfield — but there are certainly some of the intangibles about owning the offense and his understanding of things. I was so impressed with his play and that kinda jumped off."
He loved that Purdy had been a program builder at a high school that hadn't been ultra successful. He loved Purdy's relationship with his head coach. He loved everything he learned about Purdy's leadership. And Iowa State players and staffers say their head coach — a Cleveland Browns fan — sure does love Mayfield.
"Brock definitely does have a little swag to him," Iowa State receiver Deshaunte Jones said.
Campbell and his staff kept building on their relationship with Purdy and finally offered on Jan. 11. They were battling Boise State and UCF at that point, but then Alabama and Texas A&M came in with scholarship offers. Purdy visited all five schools. He went to a Cyclones basketball game during his trip to Ames and heard the student section chanting "We Want Brock!" All that love for Purdy paid off on signing day.
Nine months later, he's led them to victories against No. 25 Oklahoma State and No. 6 West Virginia in his first two games of meaningful action. He's been a big-play machine, with 18 completions of 15-plus yards. He's been impressively accurate in hitting 75 percent of his throws. He gives them a run threat in averaging 4.6 yards per carry. And Campbell knows he can handle this initial success.
"That's one thing I like about Brock: There's no false motivation," Campbell said. "You can be honest and have real conversations about the areas we've got to get better, the areas we want to continue to develop and grow in the offense. With his competitiveness, he's already ready to tell you the same things you're telling him."
There was little doubt internally that Purdy was ready when he stepped in against Oklahoma State.
He did things in fall camp that, as Campbell put it, made coaches say: "Whoa, this kid is really special." He just didn't have the game reps to prove it. The cancellation of the opener against South Dakota State meant the team had to begin its season against Iowa and Oklahoma. Campbell likes to tell his players he'd rather play them too late than too early. So they waited. After dropping to 1-3 with a 17-14 loss at TCU, the freshman got his shot.
Making that move required having a difficult conversation, because Noland had put in three starts for the Cyclones and had earned that opportunity. In an era when many quarterbacks leave as soon as it's apparent they're not the guy, Kempt and Noland could choose to be negative influences, pounding their chests and telling Campbell he's making a mistake. That has not been the case here.
"I think honesty and a lot of trust has got to go into it to be able to communicate to all three guys and just communicate what's going on and what's for the betterment of the team right now," Campbell said. "You know you're never perfect as a coach, but you try to be honest and you try to create that trust over a long period of time."
And Purdy can be what Iowa State has been craving for a long period of time. This program hasn't had a three-year starter at quarterback since Austen Arnaud. He graduated in 2010. Nine guys have held the job since then.
Purdy can't resolve that revolving door without some help. In Kempt, he practically has a personal quarterback coach trying to show him the way. If Kempt wants to get into coaching after the season, Campbell wants to give him a position on staff.
"If he can empower two guys to be really successful," Campbell said, "I can only imagine what he can do with 105 football players at some point in his career. I hope he makes that decision. I would certainly love it if he did do that."
Iowa State running back David Montgomery says he has no doubt Kempt has the right mindset for coaching. He's been impressed but not at all surprised by what Kempt has provided for this team since going down.
"That's the kind of guy Kyle is," Montgomery said. "He's selfless. He couldn't care less about the success of an individual. He cares about the success of the team. You need guys like that on a team."
Given Iowa State's track record at QB, it just might need him again this season. But for now, it's Purdy's time to shine. If he can knock off Texas Tech — another Big 12 team juggling three QBs — on Saturday, the Cyclones' schedule sets them up to potentially make this a five-game winning streak.
The freshman can be the one to finally end the Cyclones' annual uncertainty. If so, he'll certainly know who to thank.
First, I have no clue why it took colleges so long to jump on this kid. Iowa State didn't offer him until January and then Alabama and aggie jumped on him too (UCF & Boise State had already offered). This kid is a winner and his high school results show that.
Second, this line about Purdy having a little bit of Baker Mayfield swagger to him really stuck out to me: "and Iowa State players and staffers say their head coach — a Cleveland Browns fan — sure does love Mayfield." Could Campbell be a candidate for Cleveland when the Browns fire Hue Jackson? I gotta admit...I wouldn't mind seeing Campbell leave the Big XII. I know he's been rumored as a replacement for Urban at Ohio State, and Iowa State to the NFL is a big jump, but the Browns could certainly do worse than Matt Campbell.
Finally, you gotta love the selflessness of Kyle Kempt. This is a kid who stepped in last year and had some real success. And now he's put that to the side for the good of the team and has taken the kid who replaced him under his wing. I always root for players like that. And, if Iowa State weren't in our conference, I would be rooting for them too. This is a tough, gutsy team.
A chemistry class in the Iowa State quarterback room
By Max Olson 1h ago 1
AMES, Iowa — The trend is crazy, and even Matt Campbell can admit it.
He tries his best to put this in gentler terms because Iowa State's head coach is a relentlessly positive guy. He says it's been interesting. He says it's not the easiest thing. But eventually he nods and concedes: Yeah, it is crazy.
Iowa State has had to use five different quarterbacks in its last 16 games. Jacob Park. Kyle Kempt. A few cameos from Joel Lanning. Zeb Noland. And now Brock Purdy.
So much change and unpredictability at that position would create chaos for a lot of college football programs. At Iowa State, they make it work. Campbell is building the Cyclones on a culture of consistency, even if they've yet to enjoy steady play at quarterback during their rise.
Purdy, their new true freshman starter, already looks like a future star and the long-term answer they've long sought. The way Campbell sees it, though, you can't tell the story of Purdy's emergence without first admiring the selflessness of the senior captain making this all possible.
The truth is, the reason the Cyclones have weathered their reliance on five quarterbacks in two years is Kempt. He was the key to their turnaround in 2017. Now he's doing it all over again, just in a different role. The way he's embraced Purdy has allowed this team to turn around its season.
"I think that's been one of the most powerful stories of our team from the inside," Campbell said in his office this week. "From the outside, there's a lot of stories people want to talk about. But the inside, it's been really Kyle's demeanor and his leadership."
Kempt's career has few parallels. He bounced from Oregon State to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College to Iowa State, spending four years on the bench. Then he led the Cyclones to a win at No. 3 Oklahoma last season and broke out as an unlikely leader of their resurgence. The NCAA waiver he received for this sixth year of eligibility had few precedents. Kempt's persistence and patience was rewarded with one final season. Then he went down with a knee injury in the season opener.
Kyle Kempt (17) has provided key leadership for the Cyclones in 2017 and 2018, albeit in different ways. (Peter G. Aiken / Getty Images)
He's close to returning from the MCL injury in his left knee that has kept him out for five games. But this has become Purdy's team, and Kempt has been mature enough to accept that.
He's put in late hours watching film with Purdy to get him ready to play. He's the first person Purdy talks with after each drive. He's leading by mentoring. Campbell says Kempt's dedication to making the best of this situation has had a trickle-down effect on the entire team.
"Kyle's leadership has been so imperative, to be honest with you, for our success," Campbell said. "I think if you asked Brock, his greatest asset has been Kyle Kempt. His leadership has been the spark that's kind of infused this football team a lot of ways, like it did a year ago.
"That's what a real senior does. That's what real leadership does. It's uncommon today. He's been nothing short of spectacular."
Iowa State actually signed Purdy in large part because of Kempt.
When Kempt replaced Park and beat the Sooners last season, the Iowa State staff immediately began pursuing the waiver for Kempt to get another year. But the uncertainty surrounding that attempt — both in the unlikely verdict and the unclear timetable — made Campbell and his coaches get serious about taking another QB in December.
Purdy had no Power 5 offers by the end of his senior season at Gilbert Perry High in Arizona, even though he threw for 4,405 yards, ran for 1,017 and scored 66 total touchdowns to earn Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Iowa State's recruiting staff had kept a list of quarterbacks to consider throughout the season. Taylor Mouser, one of Iowa State's assistant directors of scouting, hails from Chandler, Ariz., and kept Purdy at the top of the list.
"Brock's was the first film we watched," Campbell said. "I fell in love with it and literally called his high school coach after it and talked to him for about 45 minutes and then talked to Brock for about an hour after that."
What made Campbell fall in love with his senior tape so quickly?
"You know, I've been such a big Baker Mayfield fan from afar," he said. "One of the things that showed up in studying him and playing him the last two years and then watching Brock — not that he's Baker Mayfield — but there are certainly some of the intangibles about owning the offense and his understanding of things. I was so impressed with his play and that kinda jumped off."
He loved that Purdy had been a program builder at a high school that hadn't been ultra successful. He loved Purdy's relationship with his head coach. He loved everything he learned about Purdy's leadership. And Iowa State players and staffers say their head coach — a Cleveland Browns fan — sure does love Mayfield.
"Brock definitely does have a little swag to him," Iowa State receiver Deshaunte Jones said.
Campbell and his staff kept building on their relationship with Purdy and finally offered on Jan. 11. They were battling Boise State and UCF at that point, but then Alabama and Texas A&M came in with scholarship offers. Purdy visited all five schools. He went to a Cyclones basketball game during his trip to Ames and heard the student section chanting "We Want Brock!" All that love for Purdy paid off on signing day.
Nine months later, he's led them to victories against No. 25 Oklahoma State and No. 6 West Virginia in his first two games of meaningful action. He's been a big-play machine, with 18 completions of 15-plus yards. He's been impressively accurate in hitting 75 percent of his throws. He gives them a run threat in averaging 4.6 yards per carry. And Campbell knows he can handle this initial success.
"That's one thing I like about Brock: There's no false motivation," Campbell said. "You can be honest and have real conversations about the areas we've got to get better, the areas we want to continue to develop and grow in the offense. With his competitiveness, he's already ready to tell you the same things you're telling him."
There was little doubt internally that Purdy was ready when he stepped in against Oklahoma State.
He did things in fall camp that, as Campbell put it, made coaches say: "Whoa, this kid is really special." He just didn't have the game reps to prove it. The cancellation of the opener against South Dakota State meant the team had to begin its season against Iowa and Oklahoma. Campbell likes to tell his players he'd rather play them too late than too early. So they waited. After dropping to 1-3 with a 17-14 loss at TCU, the freshman got his shot.
Making that move required having a difficult conversation, because Noland had put in three starts for the Cyclones and had earned that opportunity. In an era when many quarterbacks leave as soon as it's apparent they're not the guy, Kempt and Noland could choose to be negative influences, pounding their chests and telling Campbell he's making a mistake. That has not been the case here.
"I think honesty and a lot of trust has got to go into it to be able to communicate to all three guys and just communicate what's going on and what's for the betterment of the team right now," Campbell said. "You know you're never perfect as a coach, but you try to be honest and you try to create that trust over a long period of time."
And Purdy can be what Iowa State has been craving for a long period of time. This program hasn't had a three-year starter at quarterback since Austen Arnaud. He graduated in 2010. Nine guys have held the job since then.
Purdy can't resolve that revolving door without some help. In Kempt, he practically has a personal quarterback coach trying to show him the way. If Kempt wants to get into coaching after the season, Campbell wants to give him a position on staff.
"If he can empower two guys to be really successful," Campbell said, "I can only imagine what he can do with 105 football players at some point in his career. I hope he makes that decision. I would certainly love it if he did do that."
Iowa State running back David Montgomery says he has no doubt Kempt has the right mindset for coaching. He's been impressed but not at all surprised by what Kempt has provided for this team since going down.
"That's the kind of guy Kyle is," Montgomery said. "He's selfless. He couldn't care less about the success of an individual. He cares about the success of the team. You need guys like that on a team."
Given Iowa State's track record at QB, it just might need him again this season. But for now, it's Purdy's time to shine. If he can knock off Texas Tech — another Big 12 team juggling three QBs — on Saturday, the Cyclones' schedule sets them up to potentially make this a five-game winning streak.
The freshman can be the one to finally end the Cyclones' annual uncertainty. If so, he'll certainly know who to thank.
