Purnell Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Following his two-interception performance in Kansas State's 41-28 Homecoming victory over TCU, senior linebacker Des Purnell has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday.

It is the first-ever conference weekly award for Purnell and the first for a Wildcat defender since Kobe Savage earned the nod after the Texas Tech contest in 2023.

A native of Topeka, Kansas, Purnell came away with five tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups in addition to his two picks. On back-to-back plays in the third quarter, Purnell recorded an eight-yard sack before picking off a pass and returning it 25 yards for a touchdown. It was K-State's first pick-6 since current San Francisco 49er Marques Sigle returned an interception 43 yards for a score last year at West Virginia.

Purnell had another interception in the fourth quarter, one he returned 21 yards that led to a K-State field goal to make it a three-score game.

Purnell is one of three linebackers in the country this season to record multiple interceptions in a game, while he is one of only two Big 12 linebackers since 2022 to accomplish the feat. He was the first K-State linebacker with two picks in a game since Elijah Lee against TCU in 2015.

Following an off week, Kansas State travels to Lawrence to take on Kansas on October 25. The Dillons Sunflower Showdown is slated for an 11 a.m., kick and will be shown on TNT with a simulcast on truTV and HBO MAX. The Wildcats are back at home on November 1 when they take on Texas Tech. Tickets for that contest can be purchased at www.kstatesports.com/tickets or by phone at 1-800-221-CATS.

– k-statesports.com –

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Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Marques Sigle

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