AMES, Iowa — Taylor Mouser leaned forward in his office inside Iowa State’s football facility, digging through his computer’s files. The Cyclones’ offensive coordinator was looking for the practice tape of the play that started it all.
Brock Purdy is now the star quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, fresh off a season in which he led the NFL across the efficiency spectrum and finished as an MVP finalist. Just months from now, he’ll be eligible for what might end up being the NFL’s largest contract.
At this time six years ago, Purdy was a third-string true freshman grinding through his first college training camp. Mouser was reminiscing on Purdy’s meteoric 2018 ascent at Iowa State when he struck gold.
“Here it is,” Mouser interrupted himself. “I found it.”
He rolled tape of a goal-line rep from training camp. The Cyclones ran an option play they call “Bengal.” If the strong-side defensive end doesn’t crash inside, the quarterback typically flips the ball to a running back on an inside pitch. But there was nothing typical about Purdy.
The freshman wearing No. 15 stared down defensive end JaQuan Bailey, who’d earn All-Big 12 honors that year. Bailey didn’t crash, but Purdy didn’t care. He faked the pitch inside. Bailey bought it and lunged that way. Purdy exploded in the other direction. In a blink, there was space. He dove across the goal line.
Those on the practice field, including Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, stood stunned.
“It was a ‘wow’ moment,” Campbell said, sitting on the couch in his office this past May. “It was our (No.) 3 offense and they’re going against our (No.) 1 defense. Brock just has this elite way to maneuver his body, to set up the precise angle against the defensive end. You could almost feel the entire place erupt on that play.”
That play confirmed to Campbell and his staff that Purdy packed the moxie to succeed at the college level. Weeks later, an injury would open the door for Purdy to grab the starting job, a role he wouldn’t relinquish until he graduated following the 2021 season — 30 wins and a Fiesta Bowl championship later.
“Brock totally transcended our football program,” Campbell said. “We were climbing when Brock got here, but this was a place that had not consistently won, ever. I think what Brock did is he turned simply believing into showing what it takes to win here every day, instead of being a flash in the pan.
“Can we consistently win and compete for championships here at Iowa State? He did all those things and more.”
Purdy’s ascent with the 49ers four years later started with him turning heads as the scout team QB before grabbing the reins for good following an injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo. So it’s easy to understand why folks in Ames weren’t necessarily surprised.
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A trip around the college town with a population of about 70,000 offers just a few reminders of Purdy’s time there. There’s a signed 49ers jersey that’s mounted next to Joe Montana’s No. 16 San Francisco jersey at Wallaby’s Bar and Grille on the north side, but it’s hard to find Purdy’s college No. 15 anywhere else outside Iowa State’s football facility.