The BYU Cougars will kick off the 2026 season in 94 days against Utah Tech. As we count down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 94 - redshirt senior defensive tackle Anisi Purcell.
Anisi Purcell's background
Before beginning his college football career, Purcell excelled at Bountiful High School in Utah, so he's a local talent. He was a "zero star" prospect coming out of high school back in 2021. With limited offers he chose to play at Southern Utah and spent three seasons with the Thunderbirds.
His 2023 redshirt sophomore campaign at Southern Utah was particularly good with 26 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four sacks. In three seasons with the Thunderbirds, including his three-game redshirt season in 2022, he appeared in 24 games with 52 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and five sacks.
Purcell's experience at BYU - past and present
After three solid seasons at Southern Utah, the 6-foot-3, 305-pounder transferred to BYU in 2025. Purcell ended up playing more for BYU's defense than originally expected after presumed starter Justin Kirkland missed most of the season due to injury.
Last year Anisi appeared in 10 games with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks, making him an important piece in BYU's stout defense. One of his sacks last year came in Big 12 play against Iowa State, dropping quarterback Rocco Becht in an important road win to get the Cougars to 8-0.
But perhaps the biggest moment of Purcell's 2025 season came after BYU's curb stomping of Portland State to kick off the season. Not only did Anisi record his first sack as a Cougar in that game, he got engaged that night to his girlfriend Michelle De la Cruz, whom he met at Southern Utah.
When looking forward to the 2026 season, he could be one of the more important rotational players on BYU's defense. While Keanu Tanuvasa and Justin Kirkland should claim most of the reps, there is always a need for depth across the interior defensive line. Guys tire quickly. Injuries happen. In order for the Cougars to win in the trenches, especially against better teams like Texas Tech, BYU will need both quality and depth at defensive tackle.
As Anisi Purcell enters his redshirt senior season -- presumably his final season of college football -- he is well suited to provide the type of depth the Cougars will need to succeed. Only time will tell if his snap count decreases this year when compared to last with a healthy Kirkland, Anisi Purcell has already proven that he will be ready when called upon.
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