[GoRU]

'10 MI LB Max Bullough



Inside linebacker
Traverse City (MI) St Francis Catholic

Ht: 6-foot-3
Wt: 208 lbs
GPA: 3.96
Class: 2010 (High School)

Reportedly offered by MSU over the weekend. Also has family ties to Notre Dame and UCLA.

Kalamazoo Area High School Sports - Kalamazoo Gazette - MLive.com

Living up to the family name, especially one known for success in a particular field, can create too much pressure for some young people to handle.

Max Bullough appears to thrive on it. The sophomore middle linebacker and defensive leader for Traverse City St. Francis has a pedigree deep in football, and he embraces it.

``It's actually something I'm really proud of,'' said Bullough, a 6-foot-3, 204-pounder who will try to help St. Francis (12-1) take down Mendon (13-0) in Saturday's Division 7 state championship game at Detroit's Ford Field.

Bullough's grandfather, Hank Bullough, played guard on the 1952 Michigan State University Rose Bowl-winning team, and later coached the Buffalo Bills. His father, Shane, and uncle, Chuck, both played linebacker at MSU.

On the other side of Max Bullough's family tree is another football name. His mother, Lee Ann, is the daughter of James Morse, who was a captain for Notre Dame's football team in the 1950s. Max Bullough's uncle, Bobby Morse, played fullback at MSU and uncle Jamie Morse was a cornerback for the Irish.

``It's pretty incredible, but he handles it really well,'' St. Francis coach Josh Sellers said of Bullough, who anchors a Gladiators defense that has allowed only eight points in four playoff games. ``He goes out and he earns with his work ethic the accolades he gets.''

Bullough leads St. Francis with 135 tackles, including 14 stops in last week's 42-0 semifinals rout of Harbor Beach. He has a whopping 19 1/2 tackles for loss, three sacks and one interception, and is an offensive option at wingback with 33 carries for 227 yards and three touchdowns.

Sellers said that Bullough's nose for the ball and physical play allows him to enjoy the success he does. Bullough's foot speed needs work, according to the coach, but remember -- he is only 15 years old and in his first season as a varsity starter.

``No. 1, he's physically mature. No. 2, he's locked in,'' Sellers said about Bullough's advanced qualities. ``You tell him something once, and he's got it down. He's got a great head for the game. It must be partially genetic.''

Whatever it is, Bullough is thankful he has so many football outlets in his family, from which he can draw advice.

``They've helped tremendously,'' Bullough said. ``They're always supportive. They always point me in the right direction. It's not always, `You're the best in everything.' It's constructive criticism.''

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