| 2006: Purify finished 2006 as the Huskers’ second-leading receiver with 34 receptions. His 630 yards receiving were a team-high and ranked sixth in school history. Purify’s seven touchdown catches led the team and tied for fifth on the Nebraska season charts. His efforts earned him second-team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches and he is capable of even bigger honors this fall. Purify’s combination of outstanding hands and NFL-receiver size make him a difficult matchup for any opposing defender. Purify was the big-play threat for the Huskers, averaging an impressive 18.5 yards per catch. Among his 34 receptions, 29 were good for first downs, while he recorded 14 catches of more than 20 yards. He became a threat to go the distance on any catch he made, as three of his seven scores went for more than 27 yards.
Prior to Nebraska: Purify came to Nebraska, from San Francisco City College, as one of the nation’s most touted junior college wide receivers, and was one of seven Californians in the 2006 recruiting class. He earned first-team junior college all-state honors in basketball as he helped lead the Rams to the semifinals of the 2006 California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics Men’s Basketball Championship. For his basketball achievements, Purify was named the Community Colleges Commission on Athletics/U.S. Bank Student-Athlete of the Month for March. He chose Nebraska after also receiving offers from Arizona, Kentucky, Oregon State and Washington.
High School: Originally from Eureka (Calif.) High School, Purify earned 2005 California Community College Football Coaches Association first-team All-America honors and Region I first-team All-California honors at wide receiver. He helped Coach George Rush’s City College squad to a 10-2 season that ended with a 41-38 loss in the junior college state championship contest, a game in which Purify earned offensive MVP honors. As a freshman, Purify had 24 receptions for 444 yards and 11 touchdowns, followed by 68 catches for 1,318 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore. Purify earned a five-star rating from Scout.com.
Personal: Maurice is the son of Mary Purify-Skillman. He was born on Jan. 17, 1986. He is an uncle of former Colorado tailback Bobby Purify. Maurice is majoring in criminal justice and has volunteered his time as an American Education Week speaker and as part of Nebraska’s team hospital visits. |
