MyCole Pruitt talks about his NFL longevity and pride in Saluki Football

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Legendary Saluki tight end MyCole Pruitt commanded everyone’s undivided attention when he spoke to SIU’s football team after breakfast last Saturday, before the team played its season opener.

A 10-year veteran of the National Football League, Pruitt was a two-time Consensus All-American, remains the school’s career receiving leader and is a member the Saluki Hall of Fame. Still, he said not making the playoffs was a major regret, and he implored the team to let that goal fuel them for the 2025 season.

Afterward, the St. Louis native spoke with StrongDawgs at length about his career at SIU, his longevity in the NFL, and his pride in SIU and Saluki Football.

StrongDawgs conversation with tight end MyCole Pruitt

SD: Do you remember how you wound up at SIU?

MP: Coach Eric Schmidt recruited me out of Kirkwood High School. I was deciding between SIU and Missouri State. I thought I was smart, and I heard they had a good engineering program out here, so that's what I wanted to do. I came here for that. Obviously, the football program was important, as well. They were building the new stadium and the rendering looked really good.

SD: You led the team in receiving as a redshirt freshman. When did you start to see your potential to play at the pro level.

MP: I only started playing football in high school, so I was just a raw talent coming out of Kirkwood. I think the redshirt year, where I got to just develop and play against this level of defense every day on the scout team,

it went a long way. Just the progression each year to continue to get better, things started clicking on all cylinders. The offense started revolving around me more. It was just putting in the work every day, not shying away from the spotlight and the pressure that's put on you when you’re one of the best guys on the team.

Pruitt makes a leaping TD grab at Busch Stadium in 2013

SD: You were part of history, playing the first-ever college football game at Busch Stadium your junior year. What do you remember about that game, playing in your hometown?

MP: That was a fun game for sure, man. I had so many people in the stands. Friends and family and just the first football game ever being played there, just being part of history and able to score touchdown in that game too, have a good game. We were on a baseball field, running in dirt and stuff, but it was fun, just knowing the tradition of the Cardinals’ baseball in that stadium, and just getting to showcase my talents there, too.

SD: Do you remember how bad the field conditions were by the end of the game?

MP: Yeah, it was terrible. I don't think they did it again to my knowledge.

Pruitt had 10 catches for 136 yards at Purdue in 2014

SD: You had a big game at Purdue your senior year, where this year’s team plays, ironically, next week. What do you remember about that game?

MP: Every now and then I see some of the pictures. We didn't come out with the win, but we were battling all the way. I had a big game and it really propelled me for the rest of that season.

SD: Your accomplishments at SIU have stood the test of time. What does that means to you?

MP: Oh, man, that means a lot. That means I did some good things. I think today's college football environment makes it hard for somebody to break those records, because I was here for four and a half years. As long as it goes, I'll be proud of it. And when somebody breaks it, I'll be proud of them.

SD: Tell me about the process leading up to the NFL Draft, playing in the East-West Shrine Game, the NFL Scouting Combine, and ultimately getting drafted.

MP: I think the Combine is really what set things apart for me. All the teams were there, but I didn't have any interviews. I just knew that when it came down to the field, I trained hard, and I was ready for the opportunity and seized the moment. I ran a 4.58 in the 40, so it made some teams want to go back and look at the film, which spoke for itself. So on draft day, like I said, nobody really talked to me at the combine, so I had no idea what was going to happen. And when I got that call from the Vikings in the fifth, I was elated. The family was going crazy and it's a great memory.

SD: What do you remember from your first training camp?

MP: First training camp, just trying to fight for whatever I can, trying to learn from the older guys, trying to learn the league. I remember I had legendary coach Norv Turner down my back every day. I can hear his voice right now. But when it came down to preseason games, I was able to shine in some of those games and make the team.

SD: You spent the majority of your career with the Tennessee Titans. Tell me about playing for that organization.

MP: Great organization. Great coach in Mike Vrabel. So much knowledge that he had, just being a player, playing for the Patriots, winning championships, so much knowledge that he was able to pass along to his players. We were extremely prepared every game and able to have some success. I was able to thrive in that offense.

SD: It was a much different style of offense than what you played in college, wasn’t it?

MP: It was kind of a 180 from college days, where I was catching the ball so much, and then going to Tennessee and we have Derrick Henry and you got to block, you might not touch the ball or see the ball. So I had to morph into what the league needed me to be. Always knowing that I could catch the ball, I had that in my back pocket, but let me work on this other part of my game so I could stick in the league.

SD: Talk about the great playoff run during the 2019 season, when you made it all the way to the AFC Championship game.

MP: In 2019, we went to New England for the playoffs and beat them. Tom Brady was on his way out and we kind of knocked him off his throne at that point. And then we went to Baltimore. They were the number-one seed at that point, and we were able to beat them there. Those were huge moments and so much camaraderie in those locker rooms afterwards, just elation. We weren't able to finish the mission, but being able to make it that far with a group of guys that you put in so much work with is huge.

SD: Besides staying in great physical condition, to what do you attribute your NFL longevity?

MP: Oh, man, there's a lot of mental work, a lot of mental toughness that I had to work on. As I mentioned before, just having to morph myself into what was needed on said team, and I think that went a long way in the eyes of coaches, being able to trust a guy with whatever you asked him to do. It took a lot of mental work because I wanted the ball, of course. I wanted to do all the things I was able to do here at SIU. But that's not what was called for at that point in time. So just understanding and growing up, that whatever opportunity is presented in front of you, that's the one you have to seize.

SD: Who would you say was most influential in your NFL development?

MP: Definitely Arthur Smith. He's a guy that I was able to build trust with, and we met up at three stops now, so six years with Art. I was able to learn his offense and get it down to where I could teach it to the next people behind me when he went to Pittsburgh. That was kind of the role I was placed in. So just another role that I was asked to do that it just shows the maturation of my career.

SD: You’re on standby in case a team calls, but where is home for you now?

MP: I’m living in Dallas now with my wife and daughter, and we have another one on the way, so it's super exciting. Just something new every day. We get a lot of laughs and we're ready to expand our family again, coming here pretty soon.

SD: Tell me about your podcast.

MP: It's called Must Be 2 Sides. I started it with a fellow alum of SIU, Ahmad Hicks. Our professional careers kind of went on a parallel. We both wanted to be in the NFL, but he ended up going the broadcasting route and we just talked about the two sides of media and athlete and how sometimes they get put up against each other. At the end of the day, we are best friends. We met at high school. We took it to college and stayed with it afterward in our parallel careers. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Pruitt with his SIU coaches Nick Hill, Larry Warner

SD: How exciting is it to reconnect with your alma mater?

MP: Seeing the new buildings that are going up, it's come a long way from when I was here. I’ve been keeping tabs on Nick (Hill), who was obviously here when I was here.The pride that he has in this program is great to see. It just gives me excitement for the future of SIU, especially the football team, because I'm connected to the team for sure. Just seeing the swag that they have, I don't want to knock my old teams, but the talent level seems a little higher now, and I just love it. I just love to be around the guys and feel that energy again.