Michigan State Spartan Football Early Enrolle RB Brandon Tullis Adapting To College

Michigan State running backs coach Keith Bhonapha discussed his lone early enrollee of spring football — Brandon Tullis

For early enrollees, spring practice is the opportunity to get acclimated with what college life is like while playing a little football on the side.

That's what Michigan State freshman running back Brandon Tullis is experiencing right now, and the former three-star prospect out of Frisco, Texas is drawing praise alongside some friendly ribbing from his position coach, Keith Bhonapha.

"He's doing good," MSU's running backs coach said. "I think he has a little cold or something. Maybe this up and down weather's got ahold of him, but no, he's doing good. He's a freshman just like everybody else. He's just trying to figure out how to get to the cafeteria and to class all right, and I'm lucky if he makes it to the meeting. But, no, I'm just playing — he's doing good."

Again, this is life for an early enrollee. Getting acclimated to school, coursework and the regimented schedules are often more extensive parts of a freshman's first semester on campus than anything they do on the football field. With that understood, Tullis is still turning some heads in spring practice.

"He's going to be a big kid. He's a big Joker now. He was their bellcow at the running back position," Bhonapha said, referring to Tullis' time in the backfield at Frisco (Texas) Memorial High School.

Tullis was a two-way player in high school, playing running back on offense and linebacker on defense. Bhonapha said recruiting high school guys who play multiple positions isn't necessarily a rule he lives by, but athletes who can do that usually get coaches excited.

"I'll say this, when I'm watching film and there's a running back and he's playing corner, and then sometimes he's lined up at receiver, and then he's in the backfield — you love it," Bhonapha said. "Because, at some point, this guy is having to learn multiple things, so you figure this guy has the football I.Q. And then, if he's making plays at all three of those positions or whatever positions he's playing, that means he's not all the way, 100 percent, ever, because he's always gassed because he's always on the field. So, just imagine if you got that guy on one side of the ball focused on one craft, you think the upside is going to be really good at that."

Tullis' focus is entirely on playing running back for the Spartans (in addition to learning how college life works and what it takes to be successful in school). Michigan State and Bhonapha hope that, in time, that narrowed focus for the freshman can lead to a productive career as a Spartan.

The Michigan State Spartan Football Spring Green and White Game (Spring Showcase) will be held at the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation, Spartan Stadium, on April 20, 2024, at 2 p.m.

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