‘Very talented’ true freshman QB DeShawn Purdie to make first start for Charlotte 49ers

It’s DeShawn Purdie’s time behind center for the Charlotte 49ers.

Always smiling and exhibiting a particularly positive attitude, the 18-year-old true freshman quarterback is set to make his first collegiate start on Saturday against Gardner-Webb.

Max Brown, the starting signal caller who injured his right thumb, is considered week-to-week, head coach Biff Poggi said at Tuesday’s weekly news conference. Purdie filled in for Brown nicely throughout the second half of Saturday’s loss, and Brown has been working with him and fellow backup Trexler Ivey closely in practice early this week.

“This time last year, (Purdie) was flipping bubble gum cards, and now all of the sudden, he’s starting in Division I football,” Poggi said. “We got to take care of him. He’s very talented, but he is a freshman. And we’re confident in him.”

With Terron Kellman out, another chance for Charlotte’s receivers

Charlotte will be without one of its top running backs against Gardner-Webb.

Terron Kellman won’t dress and is out for Saturday’s game, Poggi announced at Tuesday’s news conference. Kellman got injured during the Niners’ loss in Chapel Hill, where he totaled eight yards on five carries.

Florence, S.C., native Hahsaun Wilson led Charlotte tailbacks with 29 yards, and Michigan transfer CJ Stokes made his debut in green and gold. Poggi said he’ll expect to see more action from Stokes — a Columbia, S.C., native who won the national championship a season ago in Ann Arbor.

Charlotte struggled to get much going with its run game on Saturday at UNC. Purdie’s prowess kept it from becoming a rout in the second half, and the team is excited to see more from him this weekend.

“We’ve all watched enough football: When the first quarterback comes out, the second guy comes in, and it’s usually a nightmare,” Poggi said. “That wasn’t a nightmare. We played really hard. I’m really proud of the team, and this kid did a great job.”

‘Let’s keep pushing’: Players motivated after intense practices

Charlotte didn’t get back from Chapel Hill until around 11 p.m., and players were in the building Sunday morning.

It was a “huge conditioning day,” Poggi said. Student-athletes were running through various meetings and drills, and practices have only intensified in the early goings of this week.

And the players are taking it well.

“I’ve been on a lot of teams where we conditioned the next day after the game, there would be some people walking out, or just not being as excited as we were,” said wide receiver Sean Brown, a Waxhaw native who previously played for Marvin Ridge and UNC Pembroke. “We took it head-on. No loafing. We really attacked that conditioning, and knew it could only help us throughout the season.

“Let’s just keep pushing. It’s only Week 2. We might as well keep going.”