Brock Purdy pulled late in Iowa State loss, but Matt Campbell says 'Brock is going to be our guy'

AMES, Ia. — Iowa State's lineup was full of returning stars and of question marks. Perhaps the most locked-up position appeared to be quarterback.

Not Saturday in the Cy-Hawk game.

Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy was replaced by backup Hunter Dekkers in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against Iowa. 

However, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell put to rest immediate questions on whether there is a quarterback controversy in Ames in his post-game press conference. 

“Brock is going to be our guy," he told reporters shortly after ISU's 27-17 defeat.

It's not clear whether or not Purdy was injured. But the starting quarterback for the Cyclones, one of the most successful in school history, was struggling Saturday. 

ESPN's Holly Rowe reported during the game that Purdy's leg was being massaged. 

Purdy was picked off three times by the Iowa defense. 

This fourth-quarter change was the most important playing time in the young career of Dekkers, a star at West Sioux High School in Iowa. 

Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.