Purnell Sturdivant Season 2006

45 - Purnell SturdivantPosition: Linebacker
Class: r-Sophomore
Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 216 lbs.

High School: Lake Taylor
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.

An explosive player whose continued development is important to the defense ... Made marked improvement during the second half of the 2005 season ... Picked up where he left off during the first week of spring practice ... Was sidelined the rest of the spring while battling mononucleosis ... Has outstanding strength to go with good speed and athleticism ... Spent last season working at the backer position, but made an impact as a starter on special teams ... Was one of the team's top tacklers on kickoff returns ... Has a chance to be the No. 2 man at backer ... Needs to have a great summer to get himself caught up both physically and mentally.

2005: Playing time was limited to special teams ... Practiced at the backer position ... Started every game on the kickoff team ... Had one tackle each against NCSU, Ohio, Georgia Tech, Virginia and UNC ... Posted four tackles in the ACC Championship game against Florida State ... Finished the season with nine total tackles ... Earned Iron Hokie recognition during the off-season ... Improved in all four major lifts, including a 580-pound back squat ... Also posted a 38 1/2-inch vertical jump, which was the third-best on the team ... Missed most of spring practice while battling mono.

2004: Was redshirted while working with the scout team ... Practiced at rover, but was moved to the backer linebacker spot in the spring ... Posted a 530-pound back squat, a 294-pound push jerk and a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump in spring testing.

High School: A two-way player who was named All-Eastern District and All-Eastern Region as both a linebacker and running back ... Rushed for 1,359 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior ... Racked up 97 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions from his linebacker spot ... Named the Eastern Region Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior ... Earned Eastern District Player of the Year award in 2003 ... Gained 603 yards on 106 carries his junior year, scoring 10 touchdowns ... Helped his team to the state playoffs three consecutive seasons ... A second-team Group AAA all-state pick by AP as a senior ... First-team All-Tidewater linebacker by the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot ... Rated the No. 13 prospect in the state by both SuperPrep and The Roanoke Times ... Named All-Atlantic region by PrepStar ... Competed in the long jump, shot put, 200 meters and 4x100 relay as a member of the track team.

Personal: Purnell Joshua Sturdivant ... Born 3/19/86 in Norfolk, VA ... Son of Purnell and Terry Sturdivant ... Enrolled in apparel, housing and resource management.

- INTEGRITY - SERVICE - HONOR - EXCELLENCE - STRONG TOGETHER