How a High School Hero Turned Into MSU’s Mechanic
5 tackles, 2 solo, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, and SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. That’s what Yazoo County High School product Kaleb Eulls accomplished October 25 against Kentucky. The proverbial iron man of the defense, who has started all 47 games of his college career, has been an anchor for Geoff Collins’s defense to hold on to. The team’s designated mechanic, Eulls has been a steady player who has been able to lead the Mississippi State team to a perfect 8-0 record this season. The steadfast play of Kaleb Eulls is something that has helped him not only on the field, but off it as well.
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On September 1, 2009, Kaleb Eulls, 18 years old at the time, was riding the bus to Yazoo County High School with his sisters, when a 14-year-old girl stood up and got into the aisle wielding a .380 semi-automatic pistol in her hand. When one of Eulls’s sisters saw the girl with the gun, she woke Kaleb from his nap and said “Kaleb, the girl has a gun.” There were 22 children ranging from ages 5 to 18 on the bus when the girl paced the aisle, threatening to shoot anyone who teased her. She ordered the driver to pull the bus over to the side of the road. The driver called her calmly to the front and attempted to reason with her, but she quickly returned to the middle shouting at the passengers. Thinking quickly, Eulls opened the rear emergency door of the bus and started funneling children out the back to safety. Then, without care for his own personal body or safety, Eulls went into action. As the girl lost concentration on Kaleb Eulls for a split second, the 255 lb. star tackled the gun-wielding girl to the ground, disarming her. After doing so, he went off the back of the bus, took out the magazine, cleared the chamber of any ammunition, and kept the gun. Before Yazoo County Sheriff deputies could arrive, the 14-year-old girl asked to have the gun back, but Eulls refused.
This act of heroism, captured on the bus’s surveillance video, propelled Kaleb Eulls to national stardom. But even with news agencies from around the nation and world calling for interviews with him, he stayed humble. He told CNN, “At that point I just knew something had to be done or the situation could have been worse.” That’s Kaleb Eulls. No matter how many honors or accolades he acquires during his tenure on Geoff Collins’s defensive line, he will always stay humble.
With that humble attitude, comes the ability to help others at any time. That includes his teammates when they have car trouble. Kaleb Eulls is the designated mechanic for the whole MSU team. If a player has car trouble or doesn’t quite know what’s going on with his vehicle, they come to Kaleb. It’s a hobby for him, working on cars. Even though Kaleb may enjoy working on cars, he doesn’t like flying on airplanes.
So next time you see #92 get a tackle and hear “[Insert opposing player here] tackled by Kaleb Eulls” over the PA, remember the man who put his body on the line in order to save others. The man who goes out of his way to help out his teammates in need, and who they can call if they ever have car trouble. Kaleb Eulls is the man that we should all strive to be through his quiet and humble leadership. 47 games and counting, let’s try to make it 54 straight games for Kaleb Eulls and a national championship ring for a national hero.