IW QA with RB Commit Phillip Fuller

IW: How did you decide on Wisconsin?

Fuller: I tore my ACL earlier this year. And throughout the process I was telling all the coaches that were calling me every week, that I was going to do everything possible to make a full recovery. They all promised me that they were going to continue to recruit me, that they wouldn’t give up on me. From that moment on, they called for like two more weeks. Within a month, I didn’t have any more phone calls except for Wisconsin. They’ve been the people that have been thinking about me week in and week out. Talking with the coaches, I’ve come to know them really good. I like everything they’ve been talking about. I’m really comfortable with the coaches. I still have to take a visit there. I haven’t even been there yet. But I know that’s where I’d like to be.

IW: Are you still planning on visiting Dec. 14?

Fuller: Yeah. I’ve never been to Wisconsin before but I know it’s cold. I’ve never been up that way before, but I just think it’s going to be a good experience for me. Because I was thinking about staying close to home, but I’ve talked it all over with my parents. If they can’t come see me in play in person, they can always watch it on TV. I know it’s probably the best thing for me. It will help me grow up a little bit, getting away from home.

IW: Was it really difficult, going through that period where a lot of schools stopped calling you?

Fuller: Not really because I made up my mind as soon as I got hurt, I was going to be straight up with all of the colleges, and I’d tell them that I’m hurt. I said, I’m going to find out who’s going to be with me until the end, and if they do decide to stick with me or not. And if they don’t, I’ll look out for them, because I’m going to come back with a vengeance wherever I go. I just kept that in my mind the whole time. As I kept on talking to Wisconsin, every other school eventually faded out. And there they were. It’s not a bad school, and I won’t regret going there at all.

IW: What are some of those other schools that originally offered you?

Fuller: Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Wisconsin and SMU. Those are the schools that offered me, but I never really got a chance to talk to Colorado or Arizona on the phone. So I guess they found out I was hurt and I never received phone calls from them. I was talking to Texas A&M on the phone. They hadn’t offered me a scholarship yet, but I think they were going to before I got hurt. They started fading away, and so did Kansas.

IW: What exactly was your injury and when did it happen?

Fuller: I tore my ACL, my MCL and my meniscus in my knee. It happened on Sept. 29. We were playing Euless Trinity High School. They are actually one of the best teams in the state. They’re in the playoffs right now, but we beat them. There was two minutes left in the game, and we needed one more first down to win the game. I got a sweep on second down, and someone took my leg out from the side. It bent inwards, and I was in (intense) pain.

IW: What type of rehab have you gone through, and how is the knee right now?

Fuller: My knee is starting to get stronger. The rehab is starting to increase right now. We’re adding on a whole bunch more weights. I think it’s going to be a full recovery by the time track season comes.

IW: How would you describe the way you play, and what you do best?

Fuller: The way I play is, I’m a breakaway back, but for me to breakaway, the majority of the time I can either fake someone and get away from them, or I can run them over. But once I get to the sidelines or get loose, then I have separation speed. I separate from everyone else quickly.

IW: You compete pretty seriously in track, correct?

Fuller: Yeah, I’ve been to the Junior Olympics three times. And I won regionals twice down here at USA Track & Field.

IW: How did you start getting interested in Wisconsin?

Fuller: I watch them every week on TV. They always have a good running back. They are always producing good running backs that can carry the load. They’ve had two in the NFL the last couple of years. They produce a good running back every year.

IW: What has your recruiting contact, Jeff Horton, had to say about your outlook at Wisconsin, in terms of playing time and that sort of thing?

Fuller: He told me they’re recruiting me as a running back. He said most likely I’ll end up redshirting next year, to get my knee better, learn the offense and get weight on me. Then my sophomore year, I will start competing to play. He told me I will have to compete to play, and that’s what I like to do. I’ll be competing from the first day I get there. I’m a competitor, and I don’t want anyone handing me anything. I don’t take that too lightly. Whatever I get, I want to earn it.

IW: Did you make your commitment when Coach Horton visited your home last week?

Fuller: No, I made my commitment on (Sunday) night. I talked to Coach Horton on the phone and I just told him I was ready to commit. I called my high school coach the same night to tell him.

IW: Was your family pretty excited about your decision?

Fuller: Yes, my mom and dad really liked the way Coach Horton approached it, with academics first. That was the main thing he stressed, telling us he would make sure that I graduate. And just in case I don’t end up going to the next level of football, Wisconsin will provide the kind of education I need to make it. That was the main thing. And then he talked about discipline. My mom was kind of high on that.