Delvin Purifoy saw no point in waiting.
For the past year, the Florida State Seminoles have been the early leader in the recruiting sweepstakes for the junior linebacker at Catholic High.
On Thursday morning, just two days after the Seminoles rolled past Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl, Purifoy called FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher to offer his verbal commitment.
Purifoy's pledge to play at Florida State is the Seminoles' seventh commitment for the Class of 2014.
"They're (Florida State) in a rebuilding stage and I like how they're rebuilding their program," the 6-2, 230-pound linebacker said. "(FSU assistant coach Rick) Trickett has been (recruiting me) the whole time and is willing to offer the best help he can to make me feel welcomed there.
"As far as the timing, there just really isn't any reason to wait around and tease somebody. If somebody wants you that bad, you might as well give them whatever you've got."
If things continue on the current path, Purifoy will give the Seminoles plenty.
Rated as a four-star prospect and a Rivals Top 250 watch list candidate for the Class of 2014, Purifoy is coming off a season in which he was named to the News Journal's All-Area first team as well as the Associated Press Class 3A All-State first team.
He finished the year with a team-high 116 tackles to go with two sacks. He helped lead the Crusaders to the Region 1-3A title game, where they dropped another heartbreaking loss to Madison County.
Purifoy actually visited Florida State a day after the Crusaders' playoff game against Madison County, taking in the Seminoles' loss to Florida. Purifoy's cousin, Loucheiz Purifoy, plays for the Gators.
"I've been there for a game and their camp," Purifoy said of his visits to Tallahassee. "It's a big school. I'll probably have to get used to walking around. It's probably the best-looking school I've visited."
Purifoy also held offers from South Florida, Tennessee and South Alabama. Alabama, Florida and South Carolina were also on the physical linebacker.
Former Alabama coach Jeremy Pruitt was recruiting Purifoy to play for the Crimson Tide. Pruitt has since been named the defensive coordinator at Florida State, something Purifoy said helped his decision.
"I think it helped a little bit," Purifoy said. "Coach Pruitt and I had talked a lot. He was always talking to me about playing at Alabama. Now he's at Florida State, so I feel comfortable with him."
Purifoy says his commitment to Florida State is solid, but he plans on taking visits next fall if any school piques his interest.
"If I gain more interest in anybody else, I'll probably go visit," Purifoy said. "Other than that, I'm pretty much set on Florida State."
