CaneSport Right Now: Analyzing New Miami Commit Marcellius Pulliam
Four-star defensive lineman Collins Acheampong stole the recruiting spotlight last week with his flip from Michigan to Miami, but three-star linebacker commit Marcellius Pulliam’s commitment is now a quiet win for the Canes in the state of Georgia.
On his game tape, Pulliam immediately jumps off the screen as one of – if not THE – best athletes on the field. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound middle linebacker starred for Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, GA and unleashed his raw athleticism against running offenses. He can regularly be found shooting gaps and pressuring the passer in obvious passing situations as well as creating a daunting presence flying through the A gap at the snap.
However, most of his highlight tape showcases him as a pure pass rusher and run stopper, and the three-star commit can struggle in space. His coach, Jeremiah Hammond told CaneSport that he thinks Pulliam will be an edge rusher at Miami.
Most of Pulliam’s highlights are a demonstration of his raw athleticism and natural instinct rather than a through-the-roof football IQ where he outsmarts the opponent’s scheme. He clearly demonstrates a natural feel for the game and has proven a dangerous opponent to challenge in the run game at the high school level. But he’s clearly a player who is accustomed to being the most dominant athlete on the field.
He doesn’t hesitate to flash his ability to deliver a big hit if given a full head of steam, although his lateral quickness leaves a little to be desired, and he has been a relentless pass rusher when unleashed on blitzes.
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It’s clear he’s a player who always looks for the big hit and an opportunity to hammer an opponent, so developing him into understanding that he won’t be the most outstanding athlete on the field at the Division I level could take some time. That being said, the raw pieces are there to be molded by Miami..
Pulliam is hyper-aggressive and wants to make the big play on tape, and I expect him to make plenty of mistakes in his first season in South Beach. Pulliam is a player who should not be expected to contribute in Year One and could possibly benefit from a redshirt season, which many linebackers/ends do. He could later turn into a diamond-in-the-rough discovery for Cristobal and his staff if he develops how coaches would dream for him to develop, but expectations may need to be tampered. It’s completely possible Pulliam is a player who eventually works his way onto the field on special teams end eventually plays and spells in various sub packages.
It will be intrigueing to find out how the Miami staff envisions using Pulliam. Do they see him as a future pass rushing linebacker who can be unleashed in quarter and dime packages on third-and-long? Or is he a kid whose athleticism is the foundation for future stardom?
