Since Jim Tomsula became the 49ers head coach, it’s been often noted how many undrafted free agents he successfully mentored when he was in charge of the team’s defensive line.
That group includes Ian Williams, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Demarcus Dobbs (Seahawks) and Will Tukuafu (Seahawks), each of whom has spent at least three seasons in the NFL. Rarely included on that list of odds-beating underdogs is nose guard Mike Purcell, but that could change after Saturday night.
Purcell, who entered the league in 2013 out of Wyoming, had six tackles, all in the first half, of the 49ers’ 23-10 loss to the Texans in their preseason opener.