2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: MLB Riley Bullough

2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: MLB Riley Bullough Expectation: All Big Ten MLB Height: 6’2” Weight: 230# 2015 Eligibility: Redshirt Junior EXP:

2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: MLB Riley Bullough

Expectation: All Big Ten MLB

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 230#

2015 Eligibility: Redshirt Junior

EXP: 2 Letters

Status: Starting MLB

Strengths: Riley is one of the smartest players on team. It is often said that the brain is the most important muscle in football and I agree. Bullough is additionally blessed in that he has super vision. I feel bad for his kids, because one day when he becomes a dad they won’t be able to do anything he doesn’t see. Vision and a high football IQ are ideal prerequisites for a MLB and he has them both.

In the Cotton Bowl the Bears had the ball in the 4th quarter with a 3rd and seven at the MSU 41. They were up 41-28. There was 10:04 on the clock and they had the Spartans on the ropes. Baylor was in a spilt RB set in the gun. Bullough saw the play and came bursting off the edge and made the tackle in space. First of all, that play wasn’t even designed for him to be blocked at all; he was literally out of the play, at least they thought. He was so far away that Baylor didn’t bother to put a hat on him. Secondly, with the misdirection I don’t know how many LB’s in the NFL would have caught it, but Riley saw, attacked, and destroyed. After the game, Baylor players had a ton of respect for his vision and brain and they should. Here was a play that Bryce Petty, the Baylor QB, personally mentioned about Bullough.

In that Cotton Bowl, MSU had taken the lead 42-41 and the Bears had the ball at their own 12. There was :07 on the clock and Baylor was in the gun with no running back. While Bullough back pedaled into pass coverage WHILE MOVING LATERALLY (freakish athleticism) he ran into the ref. Petty saw the impending collision and made the right read to throw that way. Well, it should have been the right read. While stumbling somehow and someway, Bullough laid out and got the game winning interception. It was nothing short of art.

Weakness: Let’s look at the OSU game. The Spartans were kicking off with 9:42 on the clock in the 1st quarter. The score was 7-0. Bullough charges down the field and dives at the feet of the returner. He didn’t get home and missed the tackle. Riley is such brute that at times he can make minor mistakes, because usually he can get away with it. That will come with more reps, but sometimes as much as you trust your body, you have to learn to love your technique more.

Final Analysis: When Bullough committed to MSU he was penciled in the coaches’ minds as the starting MLB in 2014. Dantonio has a rule that if a player is not being used by his coaches another coach can use him on their side of the ball. The offensive coaches wanted Bullough at RB and they took him.

The defensive staff thought he would serve at a backup MLB spot with his brother Max and Kyler Elsworth learning the ropes in 2013 and step right in for 2014. Well, the offensive coaches took him for 2013, he languished on the offense, and when 2014 came around he wasn’t ready at MLB. He is back where he belongs now and NO ONE, NO ONE had a better spring.

I asked Co-DC Mike Tressel this summer if it was fair of me to keep reminding Spartan Nation that Riley is Riley. He isn’t Max, his dad Shane, or Uncle Chuck. People need to just let him be Riley. “You know, you’re absolutely being fair. They have some similarities but a lot of differences as well and I myself said, “Hey Riley, feel free, if I ever use the word Max as an example just say I don’t want to hear it anymore Coach,” if you feel that way. Now he never does. He’s fine because he respects his brother enough to listen to those coaching points and be proud of him but there are some differences in their games that could be real positives for Riley. So there’s no doubt we’ve got to build on Riley’s strengths and play fast and physical consistently. He does that a step above what a lot of people we have done on the field. But he does have some of the same characteristics of leadership that are finally starting to come out because he’s finally at the same position for an extended period of time.”

I can tell you this. Multiple players called out Bullough for his play and there is no doubt that this is his defense. Riley comes from a great family. Most of you think I am talking football and they are the first family of Spartan football, but that isn’t what I mean. They are truly just wonderful people.

Riley is no exception. Whereas Max is a carbon copy of his dad Shane, Riley is his mother LeeAnn (off the field). He is a musician, he is laid back, and if you saw him away from football you would never believe the man on the field is the same person. I’m not sure if I have ever seen a person so dichotomized. It is really fun to see.

Riley may finish in two years as one of Spartan football’s best ever. I can already tell you this, throughout the entire storied history of Spartan Football he is one of the best people to ever wear the green and white. He is a gentleman, a student, an athlete and an absolutely terrific human being. I wish all the fans could get to know him. He is the old adage “salt of the earth.”

I love to tell this story. Last year in Dallas he was asked about Max who plays for the Texans. He said, “I love Max. I’ve always looked up to Max. I would never be upset for his success and being asked about it. I am really fortunate to be his brother and I am his biggest fan.” Moments later when his little brother Byron who is also on the team was mentioned, “Byron is such a good player. He is going to be so good. Of course I love him as my brother, but as a Spartan fan I’m glad he is on our team. He makes us better.”

I want you to ponder that for a moment. National stage he could have made it all about him. He could have. He earned that right. Not Riley. It was praise and love for his brothers and then gets on the field and just dominated. Afterwards it was Baylor’s coaches and players talking about him. That is Riley. He will let others talk about him, he wants to talk about his brothers. Pretty special young man.

Next up: Shilique THE FREAK Calhoun

You can CLICK RIGHT HERE TO LISTEN TO SOME OF RILEY'S MUSIC HE HAS RECORDED.Â