Scout.com > Football Recruiting Boiler Up! Desmond Tardy Verbally Commits Story URL: http://recruiting.scout.com/2/172008.html Chris Pool SuperPrep.com Aug 26, 2003 Purdue makes a living at turning high school football prospects that aren't highly recruited into super stars (see Drew Brees). Indianapolis athlete Desmond Tardy fits this stereotype to a "T". “I verbally committed to Purdue last Sunday,” said Indiana athlete Desmond Tardy. “I committed to Purdue because when I felt very comfortable on my unofficial visit. The coaches seemed very interested in me and made me feel at home. “Purdue was always in my top five because of location. My parents can watch me play now and that was a big factor in my decision. There was nothing about Purdue that I didn’t like.” Tardy, a 6-foot-1, 178-pounder from Indianapolis (Warren Central) is one of the most versatile athletes in the Midwest. “Desmond is the best overall athlete we have on our team,” said Head Coach Kevin Wright. “Desmond is being recruited as an athlete. He has tremendous athleticism and a super vertical leap.” Tardy lines up at Quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back for Warren Central Head Coach Kevin Wright and he’ll start his Purdue football career as a wide receiver. As a junior, Desmond passed for 18 touchdowns and rushed for 11 more scores. He rushed for 1,012 yards in 2002 as well. Tardy also had a scholarship offer from Illinois and he picked the Boilermakers over the Fighting Illini, Indiana and others. Copyright © Scout.com and SuperPrep.com