Recruiting, regardless of the sport, is an inexact science at best. Ron Fuselier is living proof. The former Richmond Hill cornerback was lightly recruited coming out of high school despite being a three-year starter on state playoff teams. He was also a key reserve on Wildcats basketball teams that made the state playoffs his three years on the varsity.
Fuselier’s best offer was a partial scholarship to Savannah State. He spent a frustrating year at SSU where he did not see any action in the 2019 season.
The Tigers shut down their program in 2020 due to COVID and Fuselier spent that year out of school trying to decide if he wanted to continue his dream of playing college football.
“I took that year off from football and made the decision if I didn’t get an opportunity football was over,” Fuselier said in a recent phone interview. “Then I bumped into Maurice (Smith) who was home on break and he told me about Hancock.”
Hancock is Allan Hancock College, a two-year school with 10,250 students located in Santa Maria, Calif., where it competes in the Northern Division of the 36-team Southern California Football Association.
Smith, who was Richmond Hill’s leading career rusher with 2,313 yards when he graduated in 2018, had taken his talents to Hancock where he had prospered. He is now playing at Western New Mexico University which he led in rushing last fall.
Fuselier took Smith’s advice and headed west. It paid off in spades when on last December’s early signing day he signed a national letter of intent to play at Utah State University. Now in school at USU Fuselier will compete for a starting job at cornerback this spring.
“They recruited me to be a starter,” Fuselier said, “with the understanding that I would have to earn it. Nothing is given.”
The Aggies are coached by former Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson whose teams made life miserable for Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Conference.
Fuselier, the son of LaRhonda Fuller, found a life at Hancock. As a freshman cornerback he was a first team All-Northern Conference with 40 tackles, three interceptions, eight pass breakups and a forced fumble.
That opened the eyes of recruiters and Fuselier was soon drawing the attention of several Power 5 schools.
“TCU offered me after my first year,” Fuselier said. “They wanted me to come right then, but I had to have a two-year degree and I didn’t have it.” Had Fuselier had his associates degree he would have been on the national stage possibly playing against his home state Georgia Bulldogs in the national championship game.
Last fall Fuselier was a second-team all-conference pick with 27 tackles, 12 pass breakups and one blocked kick. That brought a flurry of recruiting interest from several West Coast schools.
“Washington State, Fresno State, UCLA, Oregon State were some of the schools who reached out,” Fuselier said. “I was lightly recruited coming out of high school and I never dreamed of playing Division I football.
“I got the chance to go junior college and better myself, to make plays,” Fuselier said. “I worked my tail off at practice, in the weight room, film room.
“When Utah State offered I didn’t hesitate. I’m a country boy and they were very welcoming. Everyone is treated with respect and the scenery here and the smell of fresh air is great.”
Richmond Hill Coach Matt LeZotte said Fuselier’s journey should be a lesson to every player in the Wildcats’ program.
“It was surprising to learn he had signed with Utah State,” LeZotte said.
“To say his path to Utah State was unconventional would be under selling it. This should tell our kids if you’re willing to work, pay the price and commit you can achieve your dream.
“Ron is a good example of how a player can slip through the cracks and once he gets the opportunity, he can demonstrate his abilities.”