By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Hayden star Desmond Purnell started getting a jump start on his Division I football career when he reported to Kansas State on June 1.
"It's been great,'' Purnell said. "Everybody out there's just like family.''
This week, however, Purnell is taking a break from his K-State prep, with KSU coach Chris Klieman's blessing, to represent Hayden for a final time in Saturday's 7 p.m. Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star football game at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson.
"I thought it would be great to come out here and help out the kids (at Shrine Hospitals) and everything,'' Purnell said during Tuesday night's East practice session at Ottawa University. "My coaches were fine with it and said I should come.''
Desmond Purnell
Purnell said his time in Manhattan to this point has been all about getting to know his new teammates, coaches and the Kansas State system.
"It's been great so we can all start learning this stuff before fall hits and school starts and everything,'' Purnell said. "For incoming freshmen, we have a lot of meetings and then have a run and lift our usual (routine). It's just meeting everybody, knowing everybody's name.''
A four-year varsity player at Hayden, Purnell may have been best known as a running back, piling up 811 rushing yards (10.9 average), 469 receiving yards and scoring 22 total touchdowns as a senior, but he was also a top-notch defensive back, recording 80 tackles, and will concentrate on defense as a safety at Kansas State.
"I'm great with that,'' Purnell said.
Purnell credits Hayden coach Bill Arnold for helping get him ready to play at the Division I level.
"He's always encouraging us to make sure that we lift and run and stay conditioned so we're ready to give peak performances,'' Purnell said. "He put me in this position.''
Purnell will also play safety in Saturday's Shrine Bowl and handle punting duties for the East.
"Practices are going great,'' Purnell said. "All these guys out here are great teammates and we've all built a bond these last few days.''
After playing in the Shrine Bowl Purnell will go back to work at Kansas State and said that with every passing day he feels more and more secure with his decision to become a Wildcat.
"I'm very happy about my decision,'' he said.
