EMQB Interview: Jehuu Caulcrick

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Jehuu Caulcrick is a throwback to the days where big, physical, short yardage fullbacks actually got a chance to carry the ball, much to the chagrin of their opponents. Jehuu (pronounced JAY-you) simply punished defensive lines as he found the end zone 21 times during his senior year at Michigan State, setting a school season-record. He would add that to his total of 39 scoring runs for his career, the second-best all-time total by a Spartans player.

Jehuu was born in Liberia, a country that was immersed in its first civil war from 1989 to 1996, and a second civil war that lasted from 1999 to 2003. His father, Jerome, was working for the government, but because rebel soldiers were attempting an overthrow, Jerome Caulcrick had to leave his family and go into hiding. Jehuu said he doesn’t recall the last conversation he had with his father. But he remembers reading about his assassination — believe it or not — in the newspaper. ”That’s how we found out,” he said. ”Everybody was on the run. The war was right there in our backyards, and we were all running for our lives and trying to seek shelter.”

Jehuu and his family left Liberia for the United States in 1992 and settled in tiny Findley Lake, New York, just a 15-minute drive from the EMQB headquarters. ”Coming from a war-torn country, I saw this as a land of opportunity,” he said.

I spoke with Jehuu about his incredible life story and preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft and future pro football career.

DAVID: Jehuu, you led the Big Ten Conference in scoring at Michigan State last season. You scored 21 touchdowns. You’re listed as a halfback/fullback. Do you see yourself at running back or fullback in the NFL? Or maybe a hybrid. I like that word.

JEHUU: (laughs) Yeah, basically I do see myself as a hybrid. I see myself as a guy that can fill three roster spots. I can line up at fullback and be a lead blocker. I can be there for third down and short yardage situations and/or catch passes out of the backfield. Plus, I can be a guy who lines up on first, second or third down and runs the ball from the tailback position.

DAVID: Have you been given any indication from coaches or scouts as to what kind of role you’ll fulfill with an NFL team?

JEHUU: I interviewed with pretty much all the teams at the Combine. Some teams have said fullback and others have said H-back. But a lot of people have said halfback — a change of pace guy. I went on a visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers and that’s what they saw me as — a change of pace back.

DAVID: So you moved to the U.S. when you were about nine-years-old. What do you remember about being in the middle of a civil war in Liberia?

JEHUU: I remember everything about it. I remember going to refugee camps. I remember stepping over dead bodies en route to those refugee camps. Each day, we didn’t know if we were going to make it to the next day.

DAVID: And your father was working for the government and he was tragically — eventually assassinated. What a terrible thing for a young boy to have to go through.

JEHUU: Yeah, and you know the worst part about it was the way my family found out about it. It was through the newspaper. We were at the hospital to get shots and stuff before coming to America and my mom saw the newspaper headline that said “Five Hundred Liberians Killed.” We went through it and saw his name in there.

DAVID: But you made it out of the violence. How in the world did you end up in Findley Lake, NY? I don’t think many people across the country know where that is. I know where it is because it’s practically in my backyard, but it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere.

JEHUU: (laughs) Yeah, my mom got a job in Erie, Pennsylvania and she knew people who were selling a house in Findley Lake. So we just moved there because it was only a short drive to Erie, as you know.

DAVID: How did you start playing football? How did you develop that interest?

JEHUU: At first, I didn’t like football. I didn’t really have much of an interest in it. The reason I played football was because my high school — a small high school — did not have a soccer team. Growing up to that point, all I played was soccer. Since we didn’t have a soccer team, in eighth grade, I decided to try to play football and I fell in love with it.

DAVID: As you became familiar with football, who were some of your favorite players that maybe you looked up to or modeled your game after?

JEHUU: The reason I wore the number 30 in college was because of Terrell Davis. I thought he was a great running back for his toughness and attitude on the field. Then as I got older in my football career, I emulated bigger guys like Jerome Bettis and Rueben Droughns.

DAVID: How did you choose MSU when you had offers from Notre Dame, Pitt and other schools?

JEHUU: Growing up in that area, I saw a lot of Michigan State football on TV and the Big Ten was a premiere conference. But the main reason I chose to go there was because of their history of big running backs like T.J. Duckett and Sedrick Irvin.

DAVID: Right, players that were built a lot like you. Michigan State had you at linebacker on their scout team when you redshirted your freshman season. Was that strategic in seeing if you could play linebacker or was it because you were as big as a linebacker and could fill that role on the scout team?

JEHUU: At the time, they thought I could play linebacker even though I had never played it before. It was something new to me and I had to adjust to it, but I made the most of it and had fun with it. I was glad when they moved me back to running back, though.

DAVID: Yeah, good thing. You had quite a career at MSU. Team captain your senior season and we talked about all the touchdowns, not to mention over 2,000 rushing yards for your career there. It was certainly a career to be proud of.

JEHUU: Definitely, but I owe it all to my teammates and the coaching staff, especially my running mate Javon Ringer. He did a tremendous job of setting up all those touchdowns for me. We worked together as a team.

DAVID: When did you feel that maybe you had a shot at the NFL — that you were good enough to think about professional football?

JEHUU: Honestly, I felt I had a real shot going into my junior season at Michigan State. The previous seasons, I didn’t get as many carries as I would’ve liked, but I still felt I had the ability and potential to play at the next level. When I got into my senior season, I was reassured of it.

DAVID: I thought your Pro Day measurables were great. 4.64 in the 40; 330-pound bench; 455-pound squat; 37-inch vert. Do you feel prepared and ready for the NFL?

JEHUU: Yes, I honestly do. After my senior season at Michigan State I went and trained and worked out for about two and a half months and gave everything I had. I went to the Combine and put my best out there and felt I did a great job. And the same at my Pro Day. So, I feel I am prepared for the NFL.

DAVID: When you look at some of the most successful running backs in the NFL — and I’m talking lately — they had top-notch fullbacks leading the way — LaDainian Tomlinson had Lorenzo Neal and Adrian Peterson last season had Tony Richardson. I guess you could say they’re kind of unsung heroes. Would you be comfortable in a role where you maybe didn’t touch the ball that much and were used as more of a lead blocker?

JEHUU: I definitely would be. I learned at a young age that it doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as your team is winning. That’s the most important thing to me. So, if I’m not touching the ball but I’m contributing in some way and the team is winning, I’ll be happy with that.

DAVID: Where will you be on Draft weekend? What will you be doing?

JEHUU: I’ll be at home with my family in New York, just enjoying the experience. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it.