Though he came to Purdue this weekend leaning heavily to the Boilermakers, David Blough said the commitment he made Saturday was no foregone conclusion.
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"It was the trip that sold me," the quarterback from Creekview High School in Carrolton, Texas, said. "Getting to sit down with Coach (Darrell) Hazell face to face and seeing all the facilities and experience what it would actually be like if I were to spend the next four or five years here. The family atmosphere I got from talking to some of the players and talking with the coaches."
Blough could have held out.
Later this month, he'll compete on as visible a stage as a high school QB can, as he participates in the Elite 11 in Oregon, a tremendous exposure opportunity for all its entries.
The thought of waiting did cross his mind.
"But after this weekend, I don't think there's anything to top (Purdue), for me," said Blough, whose other early offers came from Memphis and New Mexico State. "It's a great fit academically. A degree from Purdue is big. And the Big Ten is known nationwide. Then, I think I fit in their system, and the place just felt like home."
Head coach Darrell Hazell and offensive coordinator John Shoop were part of that this weekend, Blough said.
"(Shoop) kept telling his system fits what I do back in high school," Blough said. "Sitting down talking to him for two hours, I realized he's the smartest football coach I've ever talked to and somebody I want to play for who I know is going to be able to put me in a position to succeed.
"I'm Coach Shoop's first quarterback recruit at Purdue and that means something to me. Now, I'm going to bust my hump to help us get more ballplayers so we can go win that Rose Bowl like Coach Hazell wants."
Now, between his Elite 11 stint and senior season at Creekview - the same high school that produced Purdue defensive end Ryan Russell - Blough represents the Boilermakers from here on out.
"I'm going to give it my best, because I know those coaches are going to give me everything they have," Blough said.
GoldandBlack.com will have more on Blough this week.