Andre Purvis

Andre Purvis (born July 14, 1973) is a former American football defensive / offensive lineman. He played college football at North Carolina. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 5th round (144th overall) of the 1997 NFL draft.

Andre Purvis originally attended White Oak High School, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, before transferring to Swansboro High School to be closer to his ill grandmother. After graduating high school, he attended North Carolina where the played three seasons as a reserve defensive lineman, playing behind Marcus Jones. As a redshirt freshman, in a 1993 game against Tulane, Purvis recovered two blocked punts in the end zone for touchdowns. Then as a senior in 1996, he recorded 24 tackles, 4.5 tackle-for-loss, 2.5 sacks and 14 quarterback pressures. For the season, he was named team's most improved player. He graduated from North Carolina with a degree in communications.

Professional Career in the NFL

Purvis was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 5th round (144th overall) of the 1997 NFL draft. He played three seasons for the Bengals. As a rookie, he appeared in seven games with one start (against the New York Giants) during Week 8. For the season he recorded three tackles. In 1998, he spent the first eight weeks of the season on the inactive list. He appeared in the final nine games as a back-up nose guard. For the season, he recorded six tackles and his only career sack, against John Elway. For the 1999 season, he appeared in five games recording two tackles. After spending a year of football, Purvis was selected in the 18th round (141st overall) of the XFL Player Allocation and Selection System draft by the Orlando Rage. While with the Rage, he recorded 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks. After the XFL folded, Purvis joined the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League (AFL) for one season. In his lone season with the Cobras, he recorded four tackles and one fumble recovery.

What others may not know about Andre, is he has a heart for those struggling with mental illness and addiction. Andre continues to go out into our local communities and assists in linking individuals to resources to benefit their need, whether it is mental health based or in relation to addiction, housing, medical care, transportation, and food resources.

Andre is filled with compassion and understanding for those who were not provided the opportunities he was allotted as a youth.