Purcell was selected Colorado Second Team All-State Class 5A by the Rocky Mountain News and Honorable Mention All-State Class 5A by The Denver Post in 2008. He was also ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 17 best recruit in the state of Colorado. That ranking included all recruits in the state of Colorado, regardless of position. Purcell recorded 60 solo tackles from his defensive line position as a senior, including 10 sacks. As a team captain, he helped lead his Highlands Ranch team to a No. 16 seed (out of 32 qualifying teams) in the Colorado Class 5A State Playoffs before losing to Denver East in the first round. As a junior, Purcell and his Highlands Ranch squad advanced to the second round of the 5A playoffs. He also wrestled, ran track and played rugby in high school. Purcell played for head football coach Darrel Gorham at Highlands Ranch.
Born April 20, 1991, he is one of five children of Ariane and Gordon Purcell. He was also recruited by Boise State, BYU, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, UCLA, Utah and Utah State. He is majoring in criminal justice.
| Proj Rd: |
7.0 |
| Height: |
6-3 |
| Weight: |
305.0 |
| Forty: |
5.18 |
| Arm: |
32 3/8 |
| Hand: |
09 7/8 |
| Wingspan: |
-- |
| Cone: |
7.59 |
| Bench: |
26.0 |
| Shuttle: |
4.68 |
| 10: |
1.79 |
| 20: |
2.99 |
| 40: |
5.18 |
| BJ: |
09'08" |
| VJ: |
31 1/2 |
| Cone: |
-- |
| Bench: |
-- |
| Shuttle: |
-- |
| 10: |
-- |
| 20: |
-- |
| 40: |
-- |
| BJ: |
-- |
| VJ: |
-- |