Running back Brandon Tullis began his career in the green and white in January 2024. The then-freshman used his first year in East Lansing to absorb the playbook and adjust to the speed of college football while earning a small role in Michigan State’s offense and special teams. Tullis played in eight games, collecting his […]
Running back Brandon Tullis began his career in the green and white in January 2024. The then-freshman used his first year in East Lansing to absorb the playbook and adjust to the speed of college football while earning a small role in Michigan State’s offense and special teams.
Tullis played in eight games, collecting his first Spartan letter. He rushed seven times for 20 yards (2.9 avg.) and played a total of 14 offensive snaps with 14 appearances on special teams.
Now entering his sophomore season, Tullis is confident he has found his bearings and notes he knows the playbook like “the back of [his] hand.” Tullis also said that he intends to lay it all out on the field, performing to the best of his ability and with quickness.
“I’m definitely able to play a lot faster this year,” Tullis said. “I got the offense pretty down at this point.”
The competition in the Spartans’ backfield is physical, with high intensity among players as the depth chart begins to take shape. Tullis’s new comfort with the offense sharpens the competition in the running back room that much more.
“We’re definitely competing very heavy right now,” Tullis said. “Everybody’s making plays, so it’s pretty tough.”
As players start to move into padded scrimmages, the competition only increases. Tullis believes these live periods will be crucial for separating himself from the pack, especially as a running back.
“It allows the running back to be able to show what they can do more on just tagging offense and speeding up stuff,” Tullis said. “So, it definitely gives the running back an edge. And, if you’re in a competition, definitely.”
What sets Tullis apart already is his size, standing at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. He describes himself as a “one-cut back,” able to get downhill and make safeties miss, but he looks to showcase his ability to use his size to break tackles and deliver blows to the defense.
“Just being able to break tackles as a bigger guy,” Tullis said. “And show how I can overpower the defense and make the defense worry so much about me that my guys on the outside can go get some catches and go score.”
For him, the run game isn’t just about his personal yardage, but improving the overall play in the running back room to be able to set up the entire offense for success with every decision in the run game.
“Being able to run the ball just sets up everything downfield,” Tullis said. “The explosive receivers that we got from the portal and just the whole room, that just sets them up even more, get them one-on-one. I feel like the room, no matter who’s starting, is going to be able to set up the receivers.”
When asked about how MSU’s running back group will open up these one-on-ones for receivers and make themselves stand out as an overall unit, Tullis focused on the finer points rather than size or speed.
“Just being dialed in on our playbooks,” Tullis said. “Because I feel like our offense is very detailed. Details in the offense matter … It’s more of consistency and being dialed in in every play.”
The success of the running back group and consistency they are seeking starts with the offensive line. That is a unit Tullis is confident in and believes has taken big steps forward since the 2024 season. Its improved ability to create space, even in tight windows, has been key to the consistency aspect of the Spartan offense.
“I feel like those guys are really knowing who they got on plays and are getting on the right side of my back,” Tullis said. “Getting on the right side of guys, just making us holes, even small holes to get us five, six yards. Just consistent runs. So those guys definitely improved.”
That trust extends to younger players and transfers that just got to East Lansing and are still learning the ins and outs of MSU football. Tullis said he trusts those guys a lot and that they allow him to keep his eyes on track and continue to make moves.
One piece of advice from the coaching staff that sticks with Tullis is having trust in your team, but also trusting your tracks.
“Just trust in our tracks,” Tullis said. “Even though we’re not going live and the defense can just tag off, just trust in our tracks and trust in the guys and even the receivers that are making their blocks downfield, so we can trust our reads.”
With the first scrimmage of fall camp coming up, Tullis is focused on trust, with himself and teammates, as well as competition and execution on the field. He believes that the success of the offensive unit depends on players being in sync, something that is difficult to do with new transfers having had little time to build that chemistry. However, Tullis feels the chemistry is there and will carry over into game day.
“Just on off time, just communicating on different plays, the biggest thing is communicating and just opening your mouth,” Tullis said. “If you don’t get something, then just open your mouth. If I need an O-lineman to shout their calls out and communicate what they’re thinking, we’re just going to all be on the same page.”
Category: General Sports
