UH Elliott Purcell (Honolulu Advertiser)

'Natural pass rusher' practicing with first unit in Fonoti's absence

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In 2007, University of Hawai'i sophomore defensive end Elliott Purcell considered walking away from football.

But the reason — having a child — is the motivation that pushes him today.

"I was thinking about not playing because my girlfriend was pregnant and I didn't know what to do in that situation," Purcell said. "I didn't know how to handle football and a kid. I was still young. I talked to some of the coaches and they told me that having a kid would make me work harder. And it turns out, things worked out.

"It helped me a lot. It changed my whole life around, in terms of working hard and not being so lazy. Studying harder, all that kind of stuff."

Purcell practiced with the first unit yesterday because starting right end John Fonoti is out with an injured hamstring.

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