'Iron sharpens iron': Coveted LB Marcellius Pulliam commits to Miami

Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek linebacker Marcellius Pulliam went back and forth on his college decision for a while. In the end, Miami’s accumulation of talent and the opportunity to work with defensive coordinator Charlie Strong won out.

Pulliam announced his commitment to the Hurricanes on Saturday. Miami beat out Auburn, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State and Louisville.

Miami has been in the news a lot lately. The Hurricanes landed five-star cornerback Cormani McClain at the end of the month of October.

The flipped four-star edge Collins Achemapong from Michigan on Tuesday. The Hurricanes also have three linebackers committed in the class of 2023. Pulliam has taken notice. As a competitor, he’s not shy about going into a program based on who is coming around him. In fact, the long list of talent joining him was one of the selling points.

“Being able to go and be around great people was big,” Pulliam told On3. “The 2023 class they’re building is strong. They’re bringing in some great guys. Iron sharpens iron. Being around better players I feel like that makes me better. Being able to go somewhere that I can lock in and work is amazing.”

Marcellius Pulliam high on history and ready to compete

There’s a long history at the linebacker position at Miami. As a kid, Pulliam watched a ton of linebacker highlights. Ray Lewis was one of the players that Pulliam drew inspiration from.

“The history is amazing,” Pulliam said. “When I was a young cat, I used to watch linebacker highlights before I was even serious about playing linebacker. I always watched Ray Lewis. He’d come downhill, move sideline to sideline and catch picks. He was in Miami. He was great there. I feel like I can do there and add to the legacy.”

That history coupled with Stong’s pedigree made up a strong pitch in favor of the Hurricanes.

“They have a great history of putting linebackers in the league and I want to be a part of something special,” Pulliam said. “We talk a lot. He wants me to come to play the mike position and run the defense. Being able to have conversations with him like that and him being straightforward was big. I’m going to have to come in and work for a spot and I’m willing to do that. I’m never running from any competition and I like the grind and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to make it happen.”

Looking for a home

Pulliam entered the recruiting process looking for a place where he could be comfortable and never feel homesick at.

Miami is that place. He’ll need to get to know his teammates but he’s always seen a lot of a guy he could be playing next to. Four-star linebacker Raul Aguirre and Pulliam are very familiar with one another. They faced each other this fall in a scrimmage but they’ve talked a lot in recent months. Aguirre has been a voice trying to get Pulliam to south Florida for a while.

“Popo (Aguirre) is a great dude,” Pulliam said. “When I first got my Miami offer he was pumped. It’s like we’re brothers already even though we’re at two different schools. It’s me being able to chop it up with him and be able to think about what’s going on and he let me know that he wants me to come down there with him and stand beside him and get ready for war… Miami gave me a family atmosphere. I wanted to be somewhere that wouldn’t let me get homesick.”