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INDIANAPOLIS — T.J. Tampa was a two-way Florida highschool standout earlier than accepting a suggestion to play collegiately at Iowa State.
However fairly than catching passes from Brock Purdy in his first two seasons of faculty, Tampa was moved solely to cornerback upon his arrival in Ames, Iowa.
When requested if he would have loved the chance to catch passes from Purdy, he answered, “Oh, yeah, after all.”
However issues definitely turned out properly for Tampa, who’s attending the NFL Scouting Mix as a cornerback and will hear his identify known as within the first spherical of the draft.
Tampa mentioned he doesn’t recall if he ever intercepted a Purdy go in follow whereas he was attempting to work his manner into a task within the Cyclones’ protection early in his school profession. However he does keep in mind he needed to be sticky in protection towards Purdy’s throwing marksmanship.
“He’s a really correct quarterback,” Tampa mentioned of Purdy. “He was good at trying DBs off.”
Earlier than Purdy emerged as a participant who completed fourth within the voting for NFL Most Useful Participant, he was a principally unheralded prospect whom the 49ers selected with the No. 262 and closing choice within the 2022 NFL Draft.
Purdy was a four-year starter at Iowa State, the place he was something however ignored or underappreciated.
“It’s nice to see him do what he does on the NFL degree, figuring out that he all the time wished to face for one thing,” Tampa mentioned. “And he’s nonetheless doing that on the highest degree, in order that’s nice for him.
“I simply really feel like Iowa State, they’re all the time there watching him on a regular basis. He most likely didn’t get as a lot publicity as the larger faculties obtained.”
Purdy had an distinctive first full season because the 49ers’ starter in 2023, leading the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII. He set the franchise record with 4,280 passing yards in 16 video games whereas main the NFL in passer score (113.0) and yards per go try (9.6).
After Purdy’s departure from Iowa State, Tampa grew to become one of many prime gamers in this system. Over his closing two years of faculty, Tampa began 24 video games, had three interceptions, 16 passes damaged up and eight tackles for loss.
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