 Pruitt with theTennessee Titans in 2021 | |||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | (1992-03-24)March 24, 1992 (age 33) South Bend, Indiana, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Kirkwood (MO) | ||||||||
| College: | Southern Illinois (2010–2014) | ||||||||
| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2015: 5th round, 143rd pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2024 | |||||||||
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MyCole Pruitt (born March 24, 1992) is an American professionalfootballtight end. He playedcollege football atSouthern Illinois, where he was a two-time first-teamFCSAll-American. He was selected by theMinnesota Vikings in the fifth round, 143rd overall of the2015 NFL draft.
Pruitt was born to Colette Bonds and Carlos Pruitt on March 24, 1992, inSouth Bend, Indiana, He went toKirkwood High School inKirkwood, Missouri, where he was a three-time All-Conferencedefensive end and first-team All-Conferencetight end in 2009. He attended the same high school as formerPhiladelphia Eagles andKansas City Chiefs wide receiverJeremy Maclin. As a freshman, he caught seven passes for 148 yards and threetouchdowns. He led his team to a 10–1 record and made the state playoffs during his sophomore year. He caught 30 passes for 397 yards with six touchdowns and posted 50tackles (14 for loss) and sixsacks, helping his team advance to the second round of the playoffs in his junior season. He was a four-year honor roll student.
In addition, Pruitt playedbasketball,volleyball and competed intrack & field at Kirkwood. He led the hoops team to the 2008–09 district championship. He participated in throws and jumps on the track team, and was a state qualifier in thediscus, with a top-throw of 47.90 meters (157 feet, 1 inch).[1] He also posted bests of 13.40 meters (43 feet, 11.75 inches) in theshot put and 5.55 meters (18 feet, 2 inches) in thelong jump.[2]
Rivals.com rated Pruitt as a two-star recruit at tight end.[3]
Following high school, Pruitt attendedSouthern Illinois University (SIU), where he played for theSouthern Illinois Salukis football team from 2010 to 2014. He wasredshirted for the 2010 season and was named SIU's OffensiveScout Player of the Week during theQuincy game week. He was a consensusNCAA Division I Football Championship (FCS)All-American as a junior and senior.[4] He finished hiscollege football career at SIU as theMissouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) record holder in careerreceptions (211), receiving yards (2,601) and receiving touchdowns (25) among tight ends.[5] He graduated in December 2014 with a bachelor's degree inindustrial technology.
As aredshirt freshman in 2011, Pruitt played in 11 games; he hauled in 43 passes for 562 yards and 3 touchdowns, placing eighth in the conference in receptions per game with 3.9 yards and receiving yards per game with 51.1 yards. He was named team receiver MVP by teammates as he led the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He earned a spot on the MVFC All-Newcomer team and was also an honorable mention All-MVFC selection.
In 2012, Pruitt was a Third-team All-American honoree by The Sports Network and a First-team All-MVFC selection. He started in all 11 games at tight end. He led the team in receptions (49), receiving yards (577) and touchdown receptions (4) for the second consecutive season. His 92 career receptions ranked second in school history by a tight end at the time, while his 49 receptions tied for eighth most in a single-season in school history. He was fourth nationally among tight ends in receiving yards and sixth nationally among tight ends in receptions per game (4.5). He also ranked fifth in the MVFC in receptions and sixth in receiving yards per game (52.5) and led all conference tight ends in both categories. AgainstSoutheast Missouri State, Pruitt posted a career-best nine receptions for 121 yards. On September 17, 2012, Pruitt was named the National Performer of the Week at tight end by the College Football Performance Awards.[6]
Ranked as the top tight end in the FCS by the College Football Performance Awards, Pruitt was named a First-team All-American by theAmerican Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Sports Network,Associated Press (AP) and FCS Athletic Directors Association as a junior in 2013. He was also a First-team All-MVFC selection. He started 10 games, missing the final two games of the season after playing the second half againstMissouri State with a broken leg. He led the MVFC in receptions (48) and receiving yards (601) by a tight end, and was also third in the conference with 4.8 receptions per game and sixth in receiving yards per game (60.1). He posted five touchdown catches, the most by a Saluki since 2008. He finished the season as SIU's all-time leader in career receptions (140) and receiving yards (1,740) by a tight end. He was named the CFPA National Performer of the Week for his performance againstEastern Illinois and was a four-time weekly CFPA tight end honorable mention.
In his final season at SIU in 2014, Pruitt was named a First-team All-American by the AP, AFCA,The Sports Network andWalter Camp Foundation. as well as a First-team All-MVFC selection. He was also selected as the FCS tight end of the year by the College Football Performance Awards. He set a school record in receptions with 81, leading the conference. He had 13 touchdown receptions (including at least one in every MVFC game), which rank second in single-season SIU history, while his 861 receiving yards ranks fifth in single-season SIU history. He ranked 12th in the FCS in receptions per game (6.8) and seventh in touchdown receptions (13). He led the MVFC in receptions per game (6.8) and ranked second in receiving touchdowns (13). He started all 12 games and had three straight 100-yard games. He had 10 receptions and 136 yards atPurdue and also had 10 receptions atIllinois State, becoming the first player sinceCornell Craig (1999) with multiple 10+ reception games in a season. He led all Division I tight ends (FBS and FCS) in receptions (by 20), receiving yards (by 141) and receiving touchdowns (by four). He was a three-time CFPA Tight End Performer of the Week (after PUR, WIU and USD games). He was named the best tight end in MVFC history as part of the Valley's 30-year anniversary.[7] For his career, he had a MVFC record 221 receptions for 2,601 yards and 25 touchdowns.[8]
Prior to the draft,Bleacher Report's Matt Miller listed Pruitt as the seventh-best tight end prospect in his final 2015 rankings. Dane Brugler ofCBSSports.com placed him at No. 4, whileNFL.com'sLance Zierlein slotted him in at No. 10. He was considered to be a late-Day 2 or Day 3 pick.
Pruitt impressed at the2015 NFL Combine; weighing in at 252 pounds, Pruitt ran the40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds, which was by far the best time among tight ends. He also posted the topvertical jump at the position with a leap of 38.0", and his 9'10"broad jump finished as fourth-best. In the shuttles, he had the third-best time in both the20-yard (4.37 seconds) and 60-yard (11.85) workouts.[9]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Pruitt's NFL Combine workout |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft2+1⁄4 in (1.89 m) | 251 lb (114 kg) | 33+1⁄2 in (0.85 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 4.58 s | 1.63 s | 2.70 s | 4.37 s | 7.25 s | 38.0 in (0.97 m) | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) | 17 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[10][11] | ||||||||||||
Pruitt was selected by theMinnesota Vikings in the fifth round (143rd overall pick) of the2015 NFL draft.[12] The pick was part of a trade where the Vikings andDetroit Lions swapped third round picks, and the Lions sent their fifth-rounder to Minnesota.[13] Pruitt signed a four-year, $2,510,588 deal with the Vikings with a $230,588 signing bonus that was all guaranteed.
During the first two weeks of the 2015 season, Pruitt recorded just four snaps in each game. Against the Lions in Week 7, Pruitt recorded his first NFL catch, a 13-yard gain to convert on third-and-12; needing to get past the 28, Pruitt caught the ball at the Detroit 35, broke two tackles, spun and was hit twice more at the 29–30 but surged forward. He also showed his versatility by delivering a key block that helped running backAdrian Peterson break free for a 75-yard gain.[14] WithRhett Ellison out with a concussion against theChicago Bears in Week 8, Pruitt saw a season-high 28 snaps out of the 58 offensive plays the Vikings ran in their 23–20 win. He finished the game with two catches for 15 yards.[15] Pruitt had two receptions for a season-high 36 yards in the Vikings' loss to theArizona Cardinals in Week 14.[16]
Pruitt was released by the Vikings on November 8, 2016, and was later signed to thepractice squad.[17][18]
On December 13, 2016, Pruitt was signed by the Bears off the Vikings' practice squad.[19] He was released by the Bears on September 2, 2017.[20]
On September 4, 2017, Pruitt was signed to theBuffalo Bills' practice squad.[21] He was released on September 14, 2017.[22]
On September 18, 2017, Pruitt was signed to theHouston Texans' practice squad.[23] He was promoted to the active roster on December 5, 2017.[24] He was placed oninjured reserve on December 19, 2017.[25]
On September 2, 2018, Pruitt was waived by the Texans and was re-signed to the practice squad.[26][27]
On September 10, 2018, Pruitt was signed by theTennessee Titans off the Texans practice squad afterDelanie Walker suffered a season-ending ankle injury.[28] On November 18, 2018, in a 38-10 Week 11 loss to theIndianapolis Colts, Pruitt caught his first reception of the season for 19 yards.[29] On December 22, 2018, Pruitt caught his first NFL touchdown fromBlaine Gabbert in the Titans' 25-16 Week 16 win against theWashington Redskins.
On March 24, 2020, Pruitt was re-signed by the Titans.[30] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on October 8,[31] and activated from the list on October 20.[32]
On June 2, 2021, Pruitt signed with theSan Francisco 49ers.[33] He was released on August 31, 2021.[34]
On September 2, 2021, Pruitt was signed to the Titans' practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on September 13, 2021.[35] In the Week 17 matchup vs. theMiami Dolphins, Pruitt's right leg was rolled up on while he was blocking. He suffered a dislocation and fracture of his right ankle, requiring season ending surgery. He was placed on injured reserve on January 3, 2022.[36] He finished the season with a career-high 14 catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns through 16 games and nine starts.
On August 8, 2022, Pruitt signed with theAtlanta Falcons.[37] He was released on August 30 and re-signed to the practice squad.[38][39] On October 15, 2022, Pruitt was promoted to the active roster for the week six game vs. theSan Francisco 49ers.[40] With teammateCasey Hayward being put on IR, Pruitt was promoted to the active 53-man roster on October 18, 2022, the day after scoring a touchdown in Week 6.[41]
Pruitt re-signed with the Falcons on July 25, 2023.[42]
On April 4, 2024, Pruitt signed with thePittsburgh Steelers.[43]
