Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544053
A P R I L 2 0 2 6 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ted to Penn State. They told me they were going to bring a center in, so I was prepared. It wasn't really that big of a shock to me. "Just knowing who they brought in and knowing that he's gotten significant playing time puts a little more of a chip on my shoulder, going into things like the playbook and in my workouts, be- cause I know I have to prove it a little bit more. He's got the tape. I've got a game and practice, which they all have access to, but I've played a little bit less than he has, so it's just about proving myself. I'm not going to just roll over." Leaving A Legacy Rulli fully understands that this is how college football works now. When coaches see what they perceive as a hole in their roster, they have a means to ad- dress it via the portal. Still, the arrival of a highly regarded competitor has added some fuel to Rulli's competitive fire heading into his final year. "They got somebody who is here to basically take a job from you," he said. "OK, they have to do that. They have to go get him, but he's got to take it from me. I'm not going to just roll over. I don't think I've done that in my time here. If I did, I would probably still be a walk-on. It's something I'm willing to work for. I'm not conceding at all, but if he's the guy who ends up winning the job, it's not something I'm going to be sour about. I give my five years to Penn State, and I'm not going to regret it. "If Brock's going to take the job, I'm going to make Brock the best center, because I'm going to challenge him ev- ery day. I'm going to make sure that the gap between me and him is very nar- row. In that case, if I go in, I'm ready for it. That's what I tried to do with Nick [Dawkins], and that's what I'm going to do here. And I hope to God I do ev- erything in my power to get that job, because that's what I want." R u l l i 's f i n a l sea so n i n 2 02 6 w i l l serve as a chance to further his Penn State legacy outside of the walls of the Lasch Building, where he is already one of the more respected members of the team. "I started as a walk-on, and I earned pretty much everything I've gotten at Penn State. And I want to be the starter," Rulli said. "I don't think that's a shock to anybody for me to say that. But I want to compete. I want to prove it. I don't want to be given anything. I want to prove that I'm the guy and that Coach Clanton and Coach Campbell can de- pend on me. "I feel like I'm the embodiment of Penn State. I feel like I'm willing to build myself into exactly who they want. I'm willing to do whatever it takes in the playbook to be the master at it. And, to be honest, I think that means a lot. I feel like a lot of guys just depend on their talent and their skill, but I'm willing to build on whatever I have." ■ Rulli earned the first start of his college career when Penn State faced Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl last December. He saw action on 78 offensive snaps at center and received a 71.9 blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS