Interview: California JUCO LB William Lulu to be a Prized Addition to 2017 Class

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

When the 2017 class puts pen to paper on letters of intent, one of the more highly prized junior college linebackers in the nation will be William Lulu.

Lulu is everything a collegiate linebacker should be – an absolute run stopper, athletic enough to drop back into coverage, and is versatile enough to play inside or outside. Another thing the Mount San Jacinto freshman has going for him is that southern Florida swagger.

Call it swagger, confidence, or whatever, Lulu has it. The former Homestead High School talent has parlayed his years of playing against tough Florida competition into an immediate impact player for Mt. San Jacinto. Through 10 games in his true freshman season, Lulu impressed coming up with 71 tackles, 4.5 sacks, an estimated 17 tackles-for-loss or no-gain stops, and 3 six pass breakups in total, three that were nearly interceptions.

“Pola-Lulu”, nickname given to him by his Homestead teammates in honor to his hard hitting and playmaking abilities like former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, was even liked by opposing junior college conference coaches awarding him with first team All-Conference honors. That type of attention hit a fever pitch as recruiting efforts for the 2016 class heated up and on into the spring evaluation period where college coaches start looking for possible replacements to injured players during spring ball. The news on Lulu spread quickly with over 40,000 views on his freshman Hudl highlight reel.

The list of teams showing interest in the 6’0”, 235 pound, talent includes Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi State, Iowa State, Kansas State, Indiana, Western Kentucky, Texas-San Antonio, Texas-El Paso, Marshall, Illinois, Buffalo, Rutgers, South Florida, Florida International, and in his own words “just about every Mountain West Conference school out there expect for Hawaii”, just to name a few.

Lulu is an academic qualifier who could still be snatched up by a Division-I program before the 2016 season begins, but for now his sights are set on besting his All-Conference season in 2015 into an All-American season in 2016. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Lulu before his summer break catching up on his 2015 campaign, offseason workouts, and an in-depth overview on his recruitment to date.

Interview

William, the word is definitely out there on you. How does it feel to have over 40,000 views on your Hudl reel?

“I mean it feels good that a lot of people have watched my highlight reel but it does not mean anything. Right now I do not have one offer – yet. A lot of schools are going back to make a decision on me. The Hudl views were cool at first. I was at 10- to 20,000 views in February and March. A lot of people were taking notice. I was getting a lot of interest but no one was pulling the trigger. In the end, it did not mean anything. They are just views right now until I start getting scholarships.”

What was the jump like for you from Florida high school football to California junior college ball?

“It was a simple move. The jump was nothing I could not handle. Our county (Miami-Dade) football is the top in the nation. I was competing against top notch D-I players every game. Going to a JUCO and competing against guys not from your area was not a big jump. A lot of people say the game speeds up at the next level. That may be for the local guys but for me it was the exact same thing as high school. It was not a big transition football wise.”

What are some of the things you do well on the field that helped you earn All-Conference honors?

“I recognize plays quickly. I can diagnose plays fast. When the offense comes to the line, after studying film, I tell myself they are in this formation and then I hit it. My instincts are good. Once I hit, I keep my feet moving. I like to hit and I am squared up when I hit. I don’t like diving tackles or alligator roll tackles. They are not going to run past me.”

You’re like a wall out there.

(Laughs) “Last year, no running back had yards after contact against me. My strength is stopping the run. Getting off blocks is another strength.”

What was it like for you to find out you were named an All-Conference JUCO linebacker?

“It meant a lot because I knew I did not have the season I knew I could have had. They rotated the linebackers a lot. It really meant a lot to me to get the honor. I felt like I could have done better. For the school and the conference to name me, that was great. I did not realize the impression I had made. I was in shock. I did not think I deserved it.”

What are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“My goal is to be more explosive. Coming into last season, two weeks before we started rolling I strained my hamstring in Vegas. I was recouping while getting things down. This year I am coming in healthy. My knowledge of the game and knowledge of the scheme is there. Now I can come in healthy and be more explosive. I was not as explosive last year as I will be this year. I want to be an All-American this year.”

What are you working on in the offseason to try to ensure you have an All-American caliber season?

“I’ve been cutting the weight after my injury. I could not run as much last year. I’ve been focused on my nutrition and working on my athleticism. I’m lifting weights to where I can explode on my hits. I’m working on squats and hand cleans. With squats, coming in after the season I was squatting 350 (pounds). Now I am squatting 500.

“I’m working on my explosiveness. That injury had set me back but I’m working hard in the weight room to regain everything. On the field, during spring training I’ve been getting my speed up to par. I don’t want to be labeled as one thing I want to be balanced out. I want coaches to know I can cover and stop the run. When we do 7×7 drills, I work on my cover skills.

“I’m working on my flexibility, speed and explosiveness. I’m working on my craft. I know the scheme but now I am taking advantage of working on the little things to get better.”

You mentioned your squats, what is your bench press and power clean max?

“My bench press max is 405. With power cleans, we did not do cleans in high school. I have increased my totals a lot. I came in cleaning like 190. In January I was at 220 and now I’m at 260. The biggest thing was my technique. My strength is where it needs to be for my size.”

Will you stay at inside linebacker in 2016 or move to the outside?

“We run a 4-2-5. I’m labeled as a Mike. I’m staying at inside linebacker. The coaches are going to give me more freedom within our defense to make plays. I will be playing in the box and in space. My main focus is in the box right now but you’ll see me covering guys in the slot this year too.”

With 40,000 Hudl views comes a lot of college football interest. If you don’t mind, name off some of the schools that have or are showing interest in you.

“About every school in Mountain West Conference except Hawaii. In the SEC, Arkansas, Florida and Mississippi State. Out of the Big 12, Iowa State and Kansas State. I had no love from Pac-12. In the Big Ten I had Indiana and some Conference USA schools like Western Kentucky, UTEP, UTSA, and Troy in the Sun Belt.”

How did your recruitment with Arkansas go?

“Coach (Vernon) Hargreaves (linebackers) was the coach from Arkansas who was recruiting me. He reached out to me, they were one of my biggest schools. I talked to them – I think three weeks or so ago. Coach Hargreaves said he wanted to bring me in initially in January. All of their mid-year guys were already on campus. He told me “I wish we would have seen you earlier.”

“From there, he started asking me questions about Arkansas – what I knew and if I liked Arkansas. He contacted my high school coach and got feedback on me. We tried to make it happen. All the coaches had their guys. He told me about all the guys they have coming in. He said depending on how they do in the spring, we’ll come in and try to get you in the fall.

“A lot of other schools like Purdue and Syracuse said the same thing. Earlier, I named the ones that are on me now. Ohio came in person last week. I’ve talked to a lot of linebacker coaches and they all pretty much say the same thing that I’m a hard downhill hitter. Some of them have come to see me in person to see how big and strong I am. I got a lot of the “look man, if we cannot get you in spring, after your first two games in the fall we’ll offer you.” A lot of schools had said the same thing.”

Do you have any unofficial visits you plan on taking this offseason?

“Yes. I’m going to try to go to some camps in Florida when I go back. I go back on May 29.  I will go to satellite camps if I can. The Big Ten and ACC are holding camps down there. I want to go to this one USF and Bethune-Cookman camp that will have other schools there. Rutgers, Marshall, Illinois, Buffalo, schools like that will be there. That will benefit me. They are all talking to me.

“I prefer to play in the Big Ten or ACC besides the SEC. I could see myself in those conferences. I want that opportunity for the coaches to see me in person. I can answer all the questions they may have about me then.

“In terms of unofficial visits to a school, I might visit FIU and USF depending on how well the camps go.  If I gain interest from USF, I will go visit there. Say Florida is at a camp and I gain interest from them, I’ll go visit them. I was thinking about when I come back to California in July, I will visit San Jose State, USC, San Diego State, Nevada and UNLV. When I come back here in July, I’ll go to my brother’s house in Vegas and try to visit the Nevada schools.”

What are the main factors you will consider in choosing a college?

“From experience on how schools come to me, I will base it on being happy at a school. I don’t look at the name of the school. I want to know for sure that this school will be my home for the next two to three years. The second thing, the coaches don’t just want me but they also need me. I want a school that really needs me. I want to be more than a name in the mix. All of those factors come together as one.

“Playing time too. I want to know I can come in and earn my position and playing time. I don’t want to redshirt or sit out. The competition level will be a factor, a Power Five school would be great. The American Conference would be great. Really it’s all about me feeling comfortable and it all depends on my offers.”

Last question, is there a next level player you model your game after?

“Yeah, Ray Lewis. He’s an all-time legend. His work ethic and level of play is great. I like that he played angry. Guys playing right now, Denzel Perryman (San Diego Chargers). He is from my area. He’s from down south Florida, from Miami. He made it to the league. We are around the same size, weight, and play similarly. We have the same athleticism. I love the way he plays and puts the hammer on guys. He is a downhill hitter too. The linebacker from the (Cleveland) Browns and (Indianapolis) Colts – D’Qwell Jackson. I like him too.”

William, thanks for your time today. Good luck with the offseason camps and workouts.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: twitter.com; No. 44 William Lulu gets the tackle.

Photo credit: Mount San Jacinto; No. 44 William Lulu and teammates on the field.