Chance Purvis

Height:
6-4
Weight:
233
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Meridian, Miss.
High School:
Lamar School
Major:
Criminal Justice

Has continued quick climb on the defensive two-deep after the arrival of the new coaching staff and will enter junior campaign penciled in as the projected starter at one of the end positions … Experienced rapid growth under former position coach Rod Wright in 2018 before turning in a stellar spring performance under current defensive line boss Jeff Hanson … Was initially an outside linebacker who was moved to the line of scrimmage prior to the 2017 season … Credited with a combined 18 tackles in three spring scrimmages … Topped squad with eight stops, which included 3.0 TFL (-16 yards) and 2.0 sacks, during the first outing on March 30 … Led unit again a week later with nine tackles (4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks for -17 yards) in the second tilt on April 6 … Logged another tackle for lost yardage (-2) in the Purple-Gold Game on April 13.

2018: Played in 10 contests as a sophomore (DNP vs. North Carolina A&T and Tulane) … Made first career start against Memphis at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Credited with 17 tackles (8 solo) and 3.5 TFL for -22 yards … Also forced a pair of fumbles, making strips in road clashes at Temple and Cincinnati … Turned in six multi-tackle outings, which included a pair of season-high four-stop efforts vs. UCF and Cincinnati … Logged two hits each in contests against USF, Memphis, Connecticut and NC State … Added a single solo tackle against the Owls … Shook off a slow start (three collective stops in first five games) with a strong finish that consisted of 14 combined tackles in his final five appearances … Produced yardage-losing hits against the Owls (1.0/-7), Tigers (1.0/-5) and Wolfpack (1.5/-10) … All 17 tackles came on rushing plays, while 15 hits were against American Athletic Conference opponents (7 games).

2017: Did not experience game-day action during first season on the Pirates’ active roster … Played contributory role with scout squad.

2016: Redshirted as a true freshman … Spent fall season on developmental unit and scout team, assisting with weekly preparations … Signed with Pirates in February as part of former coach Scottie Montgomery’s first recruiting class.

High School: A key figure for a dominating defensive unit at Lamar High School that surrendered just 12.9 points per game in 2015 … Led the Raiders in five defensive categories and one special teams statistic … Credited with 107 stops, 27.0 tackles for lost yardage and 6.0 sacks in 2015 … Averaged nearly nine (8.9) tackles per contest for coach Mac Barnes … Also made four fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown … Logged three blocked punts … Helped Lamar record a pair of shutouts and two one-score games (defensively) as a senior … Part of a Raiders’ program that posted an 8-4 overall record and advanced to the semifinals of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) state playoffs in 2015 … Named MVP of the MAIS All-Star Game … Posted three sacks in a 35-0 victory over Northeast Lauderdale … Helped guide Lamar to the MAIS 3A Division II state championship as a sophomore … In all, earned three varsity letters … Rated among the Top 110 outside linebackers nationally and as the No. 39 overall prospect in the state of Mississippi by 247Sports.com ... Generated interest from South Carolina, Baylor and Southern Miss.

Personal: Full name is Pierceson Chance Purvis … Son of Ronnie and Natalie Purvis … A criminal justice major who earned ECU Honor Roll accolades for efforts in the classroom during the 2018 spring semester.