Purdie's Premiere: True Freshman QB Leading Charlotte Football vs. Runnin' Bulldogs

Photo Courtesy of Charlotte Athletics: Madeline Davis Deshawn Purdie making his collegiate debut

Charlotte 49ers football returns home, taking on the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs with true freshman Deshawn Purdie getting his first career start under center at quarterback.

Having the trust of the offensive coordinator

Purdie has had the trust of Offensive Coordinator Mike Miller for quite a while, impressing him early in his football career.

"I've known Purdie since he was in 10th grade," said Miller. "At a summer football camp, one throw, and I immediately wanted to offer him a scholarship. He's just got such a bright future."

Having the OC's trust should lead to very little drop-off in the offensive playbook, allowing the 49ers' offense to continue its success from their last game.

High school

The Baltimore native finished his high school career with solid junior and senior seasons, earning a three-star rating from 247Sports, On3 and ESPN.

In his junior season, he broke out with 2,759 yards and 28 total touchdowns before ending his high school career with 1,787 yards on 115-211 with 17 touchdowns his senior year.

Strong debut

After being called upon against the North Carolina Tar Heels after starting quarterback Max Brown went down, Purdie made program history with the first passing touchdown from a true freshman.

In his outing against UNC, he threw 9-19 with 134 yards in the air while scoring two touchdowns, which included orchestrating an eight-play 75-yard drive to score a touchdown to begin the second half.

Photo Courtesy of Charlotte Athletics: Madeline Davis Deshawn Purdie evading a UNC tackler

Taming the Runnin' Bulldogs defense

Purdie will face a solid test against a Gardner-Webb defense that has put out solid showings this season, getting to the quarterback and disrupting opposing offenses on third down. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs have six sacks for 34 yards in two games, and they held JMU to 3-12 on third-down plays.

Opportunity to shine

Charlotte will look to get their first win of the season by allowing Purdie to play free, showing off his arm and building on his success in his debut. This matchup against FCS Gardner-Webb could allow Purdie to build up his confidence and momentum as he looks to lead the Niners for the foreseeable future.