Prep Rewind: Baylor center Kyle Fuller

[caption id="attachment_24533" align="alignright" width="350"]Baylor vs TCU-DCTF/Shane Roper Photo by Shane Roper[/caption] We hardly talk about offensive linemen. We speak even less about interior players like Baylor center Kyle Fuller. The fifth year senior from Wylie High School has 26 starts and 39 games under his belt entering his final year in Waco. A Rimington Trophy Candidate and current All-Big 12 honoree, Fuller’s potential was recognized early. “I first remember Kyle Fuller when he was in the ninth grade. He started growing at about that time and we realized he’d be a player with good size,” long-time Wylie head coach Bill Howard remembered. “He really started blossoming towards the end of his sophomore season and to start his junior year.” Fuller’s first choice wasn’t offensive line. He wanted to cause havoc rather than prevent it, but the coaching staff won out and it was the best decision for Fuller. “He wanted to play defensive line,” Howard said. “He embraced offensive line and became good at it. He played right tackle for us his junior year when we went five rounds deep into the playoffs. He moved to left tackle as a senior. His size and versatility was obvious.” Recruiters started calling. Fuller was a consensus three-star prospect coming out of high school, holding at least 20 FBS offers. He eventually chose Baylor, redshirting in 2012 and ultimately earning the starting center spot in 2014. He’s started every game since. “Kyle comes from a really good family and that support system has helped him tremendously. It helped him during the recruiting process and Baylor did a really good job of getting him committed and developing him once he was on campus,” Howard said. “I’ve watched him at Baylor and have talked to people who think he can play at the next level. I always knew he could be really good, but I can’t say I’m not a little surprised at his success.” Howard saw only one thing holding Fuller back in high school – work ethic. His former offensive lineman was always respectful, coachable and a good teammate, but Howard worried he wasn’t goal oriented. That changed as Fuller advanced in Waco. “I remember talking to him after his first year or two at Baylor and realizing his mindset was different. He had goals and was willing to do the work to reach those goals. He has matured very nicely as a player and a person,” Howard said. “He wanted to become the starting center and an all-conference player. A lot of young people today want success, but Kyle put in the work to go earn that success. Again, that goes back to how he was raised and his family support.”

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