50  Mike Purcell
	Class: Junior Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo. High School: Highlands Ranch Height / Weight: 6-3 / 286 Position: Defensive Tackle

UW This Season: Mike Purcell, along with fellow starting defensive tackle Patrick Mertens, will help anchor a defensive line that returns all four starters this fall and should be a strength for the Cowboy defense. Purcell earned the starting nod at defensive tackle as a sophomore last season and could be a breakout performer this year as a junior.

2010: Purcell started all 12 games at defensive tackle for the Cowboys and showed improvement each week. The sophomore finished seventh on the team with 57 tackles and fifth in tackles for loss with 4.0 for 10 yards. Purcell's top performances of the season came against San Diego State and at UNLV, recording eight tackles in each of those two games. Three of his top four performances of the season came in the final four games, including a seven-tackle performance at New Mexico to go with his two eight-tackle games. He also recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack to go with six tackles against Southern Utah in the season opener.

2009: Purcell began his true freshman season with the intentions of redshirting. However, that redshirt was pulled prior to the sixth game of the season against New Mexico due to injuries in the defensive line. Purcell then played in the next six games and started two, versus BYU and San Diego State, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against TCU. That injury forced him to miss the final two games of the season at Colorado State and in the New Mexico Bowl. While healthy, Purcell contributed greatly to the defensive line. He recorded nine tackles on the year, including a season-best five against BYU.

High School: Purcell was selected 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 10.0 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.

Personal: 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.