Michigan State LB Riley Bullough Tells You What he Thinks About Being A RB and How Coach Dantonio Told him!
Riley Bullough Tells You What he Thinks About Being A RB and How Coach Dantonio Told him!
Q. Are you excited about reps at RB?
A: It’s fun, getting used to it. They’ve all been helping me a lot. Nick Hill really, every play I go back and talk to him about what’s going on. He’s really helping me along.
Q: Did you play some tailback in high school?
A: I played a little bit when I was on JV, but I was all quarterback sophomore year on. Not really much running back experience.
Q: Have you been able to break through a few tackles yet?
A: Yeah, I had a couple of big runs this week. It was exciting. It was fun to be on the other side of the ball for once. So yeah, I’m definitely having fun.
Q: What about that guy standing across the middle from you? Look familiar?
A: Yeah. Our entire defense is intimidating, especially Max in the middle. But our offense is coming along so there’s good things coming definitely.
Q: Does it feel weird to be on that side of the ball? You have to have kind of controlled chaos.
A: It’s definitely different, just because I haven’t played offense in so long. But it’s fun. They’re helping me. It’s just different.
Q: When Coach told you the news what was your first thought?
A: I started laughing, actually. I’m not even gonna lie, I started laughing, I didn’t know…it was so unexpected. But once he told me and we talked about it I was excited.
Q: Going from linebacker to running back, what has been the most difficult part?
A: The biggest thing for me is obviously learning the offense. I’m still trying to get used to defense and learn all that, and then get thrown on the offensive side, it’s a lot. But like I said before there’s a lot of guys helping me.
Q: What’s been the biggest adjustment for you going back and forth?
A: Probably being able to do….the 8th period I’m on offense and then they say, Riley go on defense for the next period. Back and forth, not really knowing where I’m gonna be. That’s probably the toughest part, but it’s not too bad. It’s fun.
Q: What do you like about it?
A: I love carrying the ball. In high school I was quarterback so I had the ball every play, so it’s good to be back here in the ball.
Q: Is there any running backs that’s kind of stepped up to help you out a little bit?
A: Yeah, Nick Hill, definitely. Every play I go back there and ask him what went on and what I can do different. So he’s been a big help.
Q: What kind of conversations did Coach Dantonio have with you?
A: He called me into his office and said, Let’s try a little experiment. We’re gonna put you on tailback for a couple days, see how you it looks. We’ve just gone from there. I’ve had a couple more meetings with him, just to go over some things. But I’m definitely coming along I think.
Q: Has Max hit you hard at all yet?
A: The first day I played tailback I was running a power through the middle. I spun and he hit me right in the kidney and I was like, Oh I guess it is tougher than I thought to be a running back.
Q: Do you think he was gunning for you a little bit?
A: Oh yeah, I think the whole defense was.
Q: Is there any added pressure just knowing that those were my guys still are on my side of the ball?
A: I think it kinda pumps me up a little bit, obviously. Because the defense, those are my guys, I’ve been with them since I got here. But it’s definitely fun to go and compete against them and just see what I can do, really. See how I can compare to the other backs.
Q: You’re more of the power type runner.
A: Right.
Q: What do you think that adds to the team?
A: I think it’s just a mindset. Get downhill, get... They tell me to get 4 yards and we’ll be good. It’s intimidating for the defense to know the offense is gonna come pound you every play. So that’s what I’m trying to bring to the table.
Q: Has there been any talk about playing both sides of the ball?
A: That’s what I’m gonna do for the rest of this spring. We haven’t really talked about the fall. They just really just wanna see what I can do at running back, is the main thing.
Q: Was it a surprise to you they wanted you to do this?
A : Yeah, it was definitely a surprise. Coach D called me into his office and he’s like, What do you think about playing some tailback? I was shocked but I was excited. He told me what he was thinking, what we plan on doing. So I’m having fun.
Q: How are you splitting it up right now? Is it mostly linebacker?
A: Basically I go into practice not knowing what I’m gonna do. They kinda just tell me on the fly. I’ll do a couple periods with the running backs, go back with the linebackers. I’m still a linebacker; they’re just kind of experimenting me with running back right now.
Q: How long?
A: It was just this week. This last Tuesday was the first day.
Q: So have you had any head-to-head meetings with your brother yet?
A: The first play I did. I was going through the middle, I spun and he hit me right in the kidney. So that was like a wakeup call that running back is pretty tough.
Q: He didn’t say anything to you about it, did he?
A: No. He got up and tapped me on the helmet. Just so I know he’s here, he’s there.
Q: Do you have a preference at this point?
A: I love linebacker, but it’s obviously fun being able to handle the ball. So I’m just going with it right now. Whatever they tell me to do I’ve been doing.
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