When Roman Purcell says Nebraska was perhaps his most enjoyable stop in this football offseason, it means something.
The Class of 2020 dual-threat quarterback prospect and his father, Rick, hit the camp circuit as hard as anyone for the last month. In the past 10 days alone, they have visited or attended camps at Michigan State, Central Michigan, Stanford, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, Tennessee and Iowa.
But that
Friday Night Lights event in Lincoln? That was unique.
"I loved it," Purcell told The World-Herald. "It was a great camp; I'm glad I experienced it. The fans are really great. Their dedication and what Nebraska football means to them, I know they're waiting for something to come back. I think Coach (Scott) Frost is going to do it and I'd love to be a part of that."
A rising player who will compete this fall at Indianapolis Warren Central, Purcell has yet to receive a scholarship offer from Nebraska coaches but remains confident about one coming. Offensive coordinator Troy Walters saw him perform at a camp at Lindenwood earlier this month, and quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco watched him at the USC Rising Stars camp after that.
Frost observed him in person for the first time Friday inside Memorial Stadium — "I thought I threw very well," Purcell said — and was complimentary afterward. He also outraced every other FNL quarterback in a 40-yard sprint at the end of the night and is developing a reputation for his mechanically sound and accurate throws.
Purcell is a three-star prospect according to Rivals, while 247Sports and ESPN don't rate him. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound rising junior holds less than 10 offers so far, including from schools like TCU, Louisville, Kentucky and Florida State.
Nebraska has at least nine known offers out to 2020 quarterbacks, including
Micah Bowens, the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman player who earned one after his performance at the summer's
first FNL event June 15. Unlike other positions, Verduzco has said every offer the Huskers issue to QBs is commitable.
Rick Purcell, who played wide receiver and defensive back at Notre Dame in the late 1980s and is his son's quarterbacks coach, said the family is compiling a list of college finalists, which Nebraska is among, "if not at the top." They will travel for another round of visits in the fall with a goal of making a decision as early as Labor Day or potentially as late as fall 2019 before Roman's senior season starts.
Factors playing into his search include competition level, character of coaches and fans.
The younger Purcell was already interested enough in NU that, when stormy weather wiped out his morning Lindenwood camp session in front of Husker coaches,
he canceled a scheduled evening visit to Ole Miss to perform in front of them.
After Friday Night Lights, the Purcells almost missed their flight to Tennessee because they lost track of time talking to Nebraska fans. Roman and a fan only a few years old played catch in the north end zone afterward.
"I've really come to learn who I am as a person and what I'm looking for in a program; this summer has been very helpful," Purcell said. "I can feel the buzz (at Nebraska). They're itching for their football to be great."
