Ethan Pulliam
| No. 8 – Mississippi State Bulldogs | |
|---|---|
| Position | Punter |
| Class |  |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 4, 2004 |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Starkville (Starkville, Mississippi) |
| College | Mississippi State (2024–present) |
| Stats at ESPN | |
Ethan Christopher Pulliam (born October 4, 2004) is an American college football punter for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He previously played college baseball for the Bulldogs as well.
Early life
[edit]Pulliam was born on October 4, 2004.[1][a] He grew up in Starkville, Mississippi,[2] and played baseball and soccer from a young age.[3]
Pulliam attended Starkville High School in Starkville, Mississippi. He was a three-sport athlete at Starkville, excelling in football, baseball, and soccer.[4] Pulliam began playing football as a sophomore.[2] He was invited to join the team by the team's coach, who was made aware of his strong leg.[2] As a senior, Pulliam had 36 punts for an average of 46.1 yards per punt,[5][b] helping his team win the Class 6A state championship.[7] He was a first-team large school all-state selection by the Clarion Ledger and earned All-American honorable mention from Kohl's Kicking.[5][8]
Pulliam played varsity baseball at Starkville starting in the eighth grade.[9] He was able to play as a pitcher, infielder, or outfielder.[9][10] As a senior, Pulliam batted .458 with six home runs and 28 runs batted in (RBI).[11][c] He was selected to play in both the Crossroads Diamond Club Class 5A/6A All-Star Game and the NEMCABB 5A/6A All-Star Game,[13][14] and garnered second-team all-state honors from the Clarion Ledger.[15] Pulliam also played soccer. As a sophomore, he came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick in a 3–0 win.[16]
Recruiting
[edit]Pulliam was rated as a five-star recruit by Kohl's Kicking. The outlet also ranked him as the ninth-best punter prospect in the class of 2023.[17] Pulliam was also ranked as the 18th-best baseball prospect in Mississippi in the 2023 class by Perfect Game USA.[18] He committed to playing college baseball at Mississippi State University (MSU) for the Bulldogs on March 8, 2020, the same day he was offered a scholarship.[9] In October, Pulliam stated that he was in discussions with MSU's football team.[2] On December 12, he announced that he was signing with MSU to play both sports.[19][20]
College career
[edit]As a freshman, Pulliam took a break from football during the 2023 season.[21] Instead, he played 27 games on the 2024 MSU baseball team. Pulliam made 16 starts at second base, three in right field, and one as designated hitter.[22][23] He posted a .227 batting average with 15 hits, five doubles, one home run, and 11 RBI.[23] Pulliam hit his first career home run on May 12, 2024, against Arkansas at Baum–Walker Stadium.[10][24] He joined the football team for 2024 spring camp, which he balanced with the end of the baseball season.[25] That summer, Pulliam played with the High Point-Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plain League. He appeared in 27 games and posted a .278 batting average with one home run, three doubles, 10 RBI, and nine steals.[1]
Pulliam entered the 2024 football season as MSU's third-string punter.[26] He did not appear in any games and was redshirted.[6][12] Pulliam returned to the baseball team for his sophomore season in 2025. However, his playing time was limited due to a crowded second base and outfield.[6] Pulliam played in seven games and he had two hits in six at-bats. He recorded his first career triple in his lone start of the season versus Missouri State.[23] That spring, Pulliam decided to leave the baseball team to focus on football full-time.[27][28] He had a strong showing in the 2025 spring game, drawing praise from head coach Jeff Lebby.[29]
Pulliam was named the starting punter ahead of the 2025 season.[30] He initially split time at the position with Nathan Tyice, but eventually took over the role full-time.[21] Pulliam appeared in all 13 games and had 45 punts for 2,104 yards.[12] His average of 46.8 yards per punt broke the program record of 46.5 yards per punt, which was set by Andy Russ in 1996.[12] Pulliam registered a season-long 67-yard punt against Tennessee, which was downed on the one-yard line.[12] He was a third-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection by Phil Steele and a second-team All-America selection by The Sporting News.[31][32]
Personal life
[edit]Pulliam has two cousins who also played football at Mississippi State (CoEric Riley and Mark McLaurin) and three cousins who have played pro football: A. J. Green, Tom Johnson, and Alonzo Lawrence.[12]
Despite punting with his left foot, Pulliam is right-handed.[10] He considers Deion Sanders, who also played football and baseball, one of his idols.[25]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Ethan Pulliam College & Amateur Leagues Statistics". Baseball players. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Jones, Paul (October 21, 2022). "Diamond Dog commit Ethan Pulliam also excelling on the gridiron". Gene's Page. 247Sports. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Murray, David A. (August 12, 2026). "'Just to be at this level you have to be kind of obsessed with it' punter Ethan Pulliam pushes for perfection". Gene's Page. 247Sports. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Giving Back: MSU Football's Pulliam Donates Funds for SOCSD School Supplies". Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. August 12, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Newsome, Langston (December 13, 2022). "Meet The Clarion Ledger's Large School All-State high school football team for 2022". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Faulk, Robbie (April 4, 2025). "Ethan Pulliam focusing all his effort on football". Maroon and White Daily. On3.com. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Starkville wins 2022 MHSAA Class 6A Football Championship". Mississippi High School Activities Association. December 3, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ "2022 Kohl's High School Season All-American Team". Kohl's Kicking. January 2, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Faulk, Robbie (March 9, 2020). "Starkville's Ethan Pulliam talks Bulldog commitment". Gene's Page. 247Sports. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Rosenberg, Benjamin (May 22, 2024). "Dual-sport athlete Pulliam getting comfortable in starting role for Mississippi State". The Commercial Dispatch. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Faulk, Robbie (June 4, 2024). "100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 88 Days - No. 88, P Ethan Pulliam". Maroon and White Daily. On3.com. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ethan Pulliam - Football". Mississippi State Bulldogs. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Faulk, Robbie (June 9, 2023). "Area high school baseball players perform well in All-Star Games". Starkville Daily News. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Meador, Melissa (June 6, 2023). "West snags sweep at NEMCABB all-star games". Daily Corinthian. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Newsome, Langston (June 12, 2023). "Meet the 2023 Clarion Ledger Mississippi high school baseball All-State team". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ DeRosa, Theo (November 20, 2020). "'Hat trick hero': Ethan Pulliam powers Starkville soccer to win over Grenada". The Commercial Dispatch. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ "2023 National punter Ratings". Kohl's Kicking. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Ethan Pulliam Class of 2023 - Player Profile". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Starkville's Ethan Pulliam signs to play football, baseball at Mississippi State". WCBI. December 12, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Faulk, Robbie (December 12, 2022). "Starkville product Ethan Pulliam staying home to handle football and baseball duties at MSU". Gene's Page. 247Sports. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- 1 2 Faulk, Robbie (October 23, 2015). "Ethan Pulliam living the dream with Bulldogs". Maroon and White Daily. On3.com. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Smith, Danny P. (May 30, 2024). "Starkville's Pulliam getting his feet wet at MSU". Starkville Daily News. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Ethan Pulliam - Baseball". Mississippi State Bulldogs. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Krajisnik, Stefan (May 15, 2024). "Second baseman (and punter) Ethan Pulliam is succeeding for Mississippi State baseball". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- 1 2 Byers, Jack (April 26, 2024). "Pulliam Loving Punting And Playing Hardball". Mississippi State Bulldogs. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Sklar, Sam (August 26, 2024). "Mississippi State football depth chart revealed for opener vs Eastern Kentucky". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Sklar, Sam (April 2, 2025). "Ethan Pulliam drops Mississippi State baseball, will play football full-time". Clarion Ledger. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Faulk, Robbie (April 10, 2025). "Pulliam focuses on punting for Bulldogs". Starkville Daily News. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Smith, Danny P. (April 21, 2025). "Bulldogs look forward to Pulliam's punting progress". Starkville Daily News. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Sklar, Sam (August 25, 2025). "Mississippi State football depth chart revealed: See full 2025 roster, who'll back up Blake Shapen". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Phil Steele's 2025 Postseason All Conf Teams". PhilSteele.com. January 20, 2026. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Damms, Colin (December 18, 2025). "MSU's Ethan Pulliam earns All-American selection". The Commercial Dispatch. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
Notes
[edit]- ↑ His Baseball Reference profile lists his birthplace as Amory, Mississippi,[1] while his Mississippi State bio lists it at Starkville, Mississippi.
- ↑ He was also reported as having 38 punters for 45.8 yards per punt.[6]
- ↑ He was also reported as having a .466 batting average.[12]