LB Marcellius Pulliam introduced himself to Canes fans against Boston College, as he snatched an INT and sent the sidelines into a frenzy. Marcellius met with the CanesInSight Podcast to discuss his development, Canes Connection and more:
On spring practice: Spring ball has been amazing. All the linebackers are making plays and we got some young guys coming in making plays. Cameron Pruitt, Adarius Hayes, the older guys like Wesley Bissainthe, Chase Smith, Bobby Washington, my dog, Popo, Raul Aguirre, myself. We’ve all been putting in the work, and in the spring game, it's all gonna show. I'm just ready to see us all perform and make plays.
On the speed of the LB room: The speed is just crazy. When it's all said and done, Bobby Washington is gonna be a low 4.4 guy.
On the veteran leaders: Having veterans like Kiko [Mauigoa] and Wesley [Bissainthe], it don't get no better than that. So just being able to be under Kiko’s wing and him teaching me the ins and outs, really dive into the scheme, get us on the drawing board and watch that film. It's amazing. Wes, too, I've been watching a lot of film with him. We all have been getting ready for the spring game and trying to perfect the little things.
On his athletic background: I didn’t play football until I was 12. When I first started my athletic journey, I thought I was a hooper. Then God sent a blessing my way. When I was at the Boys and Girls Club, a dude saw me playing basketball. He must have been an angel from heaven – I can't even remember his name – but he just gave me card and said, “Come try out for this football team. I think it'll be good for you.” It was up from there. In high school, I also did some track to pick up some speed.
On his physicality: Growing up, I've never really been scared of anything. I was always the one to fall and get back up. My dad got me a bike on my birthday and I ran into a tree trying to race my friend. I’ve always been a tough dude.
The hitting and the physicality was never nothing new to me. It was just something I always had, something I always will have. I'm blessed for that.
On his leap as a high school senior: I was not really recruited at all freshman and sophomore year. After my breakout junior year, I got that spark and I really knew what I was capable of. It was over with from there.
Going into my senior year, I had to become more of a leader and show guys, "This is how we do it here at Sandy Creek." I was able to watch film with my coach and dive in, learn different coverages, learn what the D-line doing and what the DBs are doing. It helped me know what's going on and play fast. That’s why I made that jump and made so many more plays my senior year.
On his favorite part of playing football: The relationships and the trials and tribulations you go through with your brothers, your coaches, your trainers. There’s nothing better than having a team that's really strong, where you can call any one of your brothers and they answer the phone. And then being able to go out there on Saturdays, make plays and hear that crowd shaking. Just everything about it is amazing. I'm blessed to be able to play this game that I love.
On his INT against Boston College. Last year, I didn't really have a role on the defense and was more of a special teams guy. Just to see how everybody was so happy for me and to hear the crowd shaking, that experience is unmatched. I don't think I’ll ever have another feeling like that again, unless we win the national championship. To see older guys like Ryan Ragone and Cory Flagg truly happy for me, it was great, man.
On his hobbies: I actually like reading. In high school, I tried to get into Harry Potter books and stuff like that but never paid too much attention. Now, I just read anything I can.
What I've recently been reading is The Daily Stoic. It has a great message every day. It's very informational.
On Coach Derek Nicholson: Coach is gonna always be the same dude, regardless of what's going on. He always keeps it real with all of us. I'm happy to have him and I'm happy he got that promotion.
On Coach Nicholson’s Madden skills: Me and D-Nic aren’t on good terms right now because he gave me the business [in the Madden football video game]. He did beat me.
That man just knows so much about the game. He can have man on this side and cover three on this side and you don't know where to throw the ball because he’s baiting you to do stuff. He’s the truth.
On Canes Connection: We do a lot of events for people. There are a lot of things you can do to help people other than giving money. Just giving somebody your time, giving a kid a good word, just talking to him and shaking his hand, taking pictures. Little things make people's day.
Canes Connection really brings that. They help us really get connected with the community. I'm happy to be a part of that. If you're not with Canes Connection, you should get with them.
