Louisville's top football commit Chubba Purdy flips to Florida State

Richard Obert | Arizona Republic

After taking a last-minute recruiting trip to Florida State over the weekend, Gilbert Perry quarterback Chubba Purdy was so sold by new coach Mike Norvell he flipped his commitment from Louisville.

Purdy made the first day of the early signing period suspenseful and waited until after noon inside Perry's auditorium before signing his National Letter of Intent with Florida State.

Last summer, Purdy committed to Louisville.

But things took an unexpected turn last week after Novell was hired from Memphis and he brought in former Auburn offensive coordinator and Scottsdale-bred Kenny Dillingham, a shrewd recruiter himself.

"This whole weekend was super stressful for me," said Purdy, who face-timed his older brother Brock to seek his advice Tuesday night. "Picking a school was super tough. But in the end I followed where my heart was and where the best opportunity was for me.

"I just want to thank Louisville for recruiting me all those months. They did nothing wrong. Me and my family still love them and appreciate everything they did."

Dillingham spoke with Purdy via FaceTime before the quarterback was offered a scholarship. Purdy then made quick travel arrangements to Tallahassee, where he even met with Florida State President John Thrasher.

"Coach Dillingham and I really hit it off," Purdy said. "I really appreciated him talking to me. Coach Norvell also, he's a great guy."

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Two years ago, on National Signing Day in February, quarterback Brock Purdy, Chubba's brother, did the same thing, keeping things under wraps until standing up inside the Perry auditorium and declaring he was Iowa State bound.

Chubba said he hopes there is a chance at some point before Brock is done with his college career that the two meet in a game.

"I hope so," Chubba said. "Playing my brother in a bowl game would be awesome."

Chubba Purdy, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, passed for 3,369 yards and 33 touchdowns, and ran for 1,054 yards and 19 scores in his final high school season.

In 2018, Chubba passed for 3,422 yards and 36 touchdowns and ran for 1,156 yards and 22 scores while playing in three extra games.

He was more heavily recruited than Brock, who didn't pick up a Power 5 offer until after finishing his remarkable high school career in which he passed for 4,405 yards and 57 touchdowns and ran for 1,017 yards and 10 scores his senior season in 2017, when he was the Arizona Player of the Year.

"With the kids, I just try to give them the information of what we're looking at," said Shawn Purdy, the father of Brock and Chubba. "Do you like what you see? Everything checked off in both places.

"It just boiled down to an opportunity. There seemed to be a good opportunity there with a coach. Both coaches have proven records. It was an opportunity. He just felt comfortable with it. It was a very, very tough decision."

Chubba said his brother told him to follow his heart.

"He said find a place I wanted to be the next three to four years of your life and you'll enjoy it," Chubba said.

Also: Louisville pieces 2020 recruiting class together without 4-star quarterback Chubba Purdy

Chubba doesn't like to upset anybody, and knew no matter his choice, somebody would not like it.

"There are going to be a lot of people upset and not happy with what you do, but in the end you have to do what's right for you," Chubba said.

He's not putting pressure on himself to be the quarterback right out of the blocks come this summer at Florida State.

The starting spot opened up at Iowa State during Brock's freshman season two years ago. He ran with it once he got the job, and never looked back, leading the Cyclones to new heights the last two seasons.

"I'm just going to study and work real hard, get into the playbook," Chubba said. "Will see what happens. I'll get there in May or June and see what happens."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.