Incoming Cal tight end Taimane Purcell was one of the Bears bigger prep recruiting victories, with the Bears beating out USC, Oregon, Tennessee, Nebraska and more for the talented TE.
The 6-3/235 Kamehameha High School standout is one of five future Bears participating in this week’s 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-American game, which will be televised on the NFL Network Friday at 6 pm PST. He joins QB Nainoa Lopes, offensive tackles Kamo'i Huihui-White and Esaiah Wong and defensive tackle Nemyah Telona, traveling from the bay area and De La Salle to play in this week’s game.
“It's been a good experience,” Purcell said. “Definitely getting to experience the different levels of football, to figure out some of the elite players from around the world is definitely opening my eyes and it just gives me motivation to get back to work and make early impact hopefully, when I get up to Cal.”
It won’t be long for the new incoming tight end to go to work for Cal as an early grad from Kamehameha, who’s hopping on a flight to the mainland in just two days on Saturday.
Purcell’s been receiving standout reviews from recruiting services so far with his good hands and fluid route runniung this week but the humble tight end doesn’t let it get to his head.
“I try not to pay attention to it,” Purcell said. “But it definitely makes me feel good about this. Makes me feel good about all the hard work that I put in, and just a testament to all the sacrifices me and my family have made, and shows a little bit of what went in behind the scenes.”
Purcell’s appreciated starting to get to know his future teammates here this week and starting to build a bit of a bond.
“Most of them are from here so I kind of knew of them and we kind of knew each other, but we didn't have a connection yet,” Purcell noted. “So being here with all the boys is like a jump start to finding connections for next year's team and stuff, and even growing connections with the boys that's not from here that's going to Cal (Telona), just being able to meet all of them and put a name to face and stuff. I think this bowl game is definitely a big way to bring everybody together, especially Polynesians.”
Purcell and QB Lopes practiced on the same squad the first two days and got to work together a bit to start to build their connection.
“I got to catch a few from him the first couple days,” Purcell said. “He’s got an arm for sure.”
With so many strong offers, what was it about Cal that made them the right fit for the future Bear?
“For me, it was definitely the culture,” Purcell said. “You can feel it up here at this bowl game, like the Polynesian culture, you can definitely feel it up at Cal, too, and it's definitely something they're building up there, and they're instilling within the team and the players. And you can just feel it's a very warm family kind of feeling. I feel like, from all the colleges that I've been to, being from Hawaii, that's a big thing, being able to feel that family, just being around people that I'm comfortable
with.”
“I've been on a couple phone calls with them because of how quick the turnaround was, and because a lot of them were from Oregon, they were competing for national championships. They were kind of busy,” Purcell said. “But now that the championship is over and they're out of it. They've definitely been connecting with me a lot more. Still feel really good about it...I like the staff a lot, and I think they're really family-oriented. All the Cal coaches, they understand us Poly boys and made it a priority to make that connection with us and it's working.
Star frosh Cal QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele was a Poly Bowl player last season and his future tight end has enjoyed watching him play and getting to know him from afar.
“I've been in contact with him a little bit,” Purcell said. “I think I'm supposed to move in with him. I've been in connection with him, and I think I'm ready once I get up there, I think we're gonna connect.”
As for what the future Cal tight end is most looking forward to?
“At Cal, that's definitely a big thing, having a couple local, higher level quarterbacks up there, being able to make those hard scores and giving me chances to make plays, hopefully.
“I'm definitely looking forward to just being in college and now that college players are getting paid, that's a big thing. It's like a full time job now and I think that's something I've prayed for and worked for my whole life, and it's definitely something I'm excited for.”
Stay tuned for more content on future Bears coming from this week’s Polynesian Bowl All-American game.
