Desmond Purnell

Last updated

Desmond Purnell
Kansas State Wildcats–No. 32
Position Linebacker
Class
Redshirt Redshirt.svg
Redshirt
Senior
Major Athletic Training and Rehab Sciences
Personal information
Born (2003-01-29) January 29, 2003 (age 22)
Fort Riley, Kansas, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight232 lb (105 kg)
Career history
College
High school Hayden (Topeka, Kansas)

Desmond Purnell (born January 29, 2003) is an American football linebacker for the Kansas State Wildcats.

Contents

Early life and high school

Purnell attended high school at Hayden High School located in Topeka, Kansas, where he was a four-year varsity player. [1] Coming out of high school, he committed to play college football for the Kansas State Wildcats. [2]

College career

During his first collegiate season in 2021, Purnell used the season to redshirt. [3] In week seven of the 2022 season, he entered the game for an injured Khalid Duke, where he finished with three tackles and two pass deflections in a win over Iowa State. [4] Purnell finished the 2022 season, totaling 21 tackles, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. [5] In the 2023 season, he made 13 starts, where he notched 52 tackles, an interception, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown. [6] Purnell finished the 2024 season playing in all 13 games with 12 starts, racking up 46 tackles with nine and a half being for a loss and four sacks. [7] [8] He entered the 2025 season as one of the Wildcats top players and leaders, as he was selected to attend the Big 12 media days. [9] In week seven of the 2025 season, he tallied five tackles with two going for a loss, a sack, and two interceptions, one of which he returned 25 yards for a touchdown in a victory over TCU. [10]

References

  1. ↑ Peterson, Rick (September 8, 2020). "City Athlete of the Week: Hayden's Desmond Purnell". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ Maycock, Brent (June 24, 2021). "Former Hayden standout Desmond Purnell ready for jump to Division I at Kansas State". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  3. ↑ Frichten, D. Scott (July 14, 2025). "Patience Paves the Way for Purnell". Kansas State University Athletics. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  4. ↑ Green, Arne (October 13, 2022). "Kansas State football linebacker Desmond Purnell 'rose up' against Iowa State". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ Lawson, Andrew. "32 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: Desmond Purnell". Bring On The Cats. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  6. ↑ Boyce, David. "Local Talent Like Linebacker Desmond Purnell Has Made K-State A Winner For Decades". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ Robinett, Kellis. "Topeka linebacker Desmond Purnell has become the voice of Kansas State's defense". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lind, Andrew (July 29, 2025). "Hayden alum Desmond Purnell reignites K-State's defensive edge". KWCH.com. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ Guskey, Jordan (July 8, 2025). "Check out what Kansas State football's Desmond Purnell had to say during Big 12 media days". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ Wheeler, Wyatt (October 11, 2025). "Kansas State football LB Des Purnell's big game leads opportunistic defense in win vs TCU". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
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