One of BYU’s biggest needs going into the offseason was on the defensive line.
On Sunday, the Cougars received a commitment from a player who can add depth along that front.
Former Southern Utah defensive lineman Anisi Purcell announced his commitment to BYU on social media. He will have two years of eligibility.
Who is Anisi Purcell?
Purcell is a 6-foot-3, 266-pound lineman who prepped at Bountiful High.
He played the past three seasons at Southern Utah, where he had 39 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Purcell’s most productive season came in 2023, when he had 18 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks from the defensive end position.
He also held scholarship offers from San Jose State, Nevada, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion and Weber State, according to Purcell’s social media activity. He visited BYU over the weekend.
Purcell is the third transfer addition for BYU, joining former Utah and UCLA tight end Carsen Ryan and former Southern Utah offensive lineman Kyle Sfarcioc.
How will Anisi Purcell fit in BYU’s plans?
The Cougars will have plenty of re-working to do along the defensive line in 2025.
Defensive end Tyler Batty will have exhausted his eligibility once the Cougars face Colorado in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. The same goes for defensive tackles Blake Mangelson and John Nelson.
Meanwhile, defensive tackles Dallin Johnson and David Latu have entered the transfer portal.
While Purcell played defensive end at Southern Utah, Cougar Sports Insider’s Jeff Hansen reported that Purcell could be asked to put on some weight at BYU and move inside to the tackle position.