Proud Texan Aaron Fuller Now Bleeds Purple And Gold
Jack Larkin
10/29/2019
In the spring of 2016, Aaron Fuller signed his letter of intent to attend the University of Washington, over 2,100 miles away from his hometown of McKinney, Texas. Away from his family, his community, and everything that he knew well.
But for Fuller, the move was the right decision.
“I wanted to get away from Texas and get a chance to be my own man,” said Fuller. “I wanted to grow up a little bit. So that, combined with the culture of this team, and what Coach (Chris Petersen) and the staff have created was perfect.”
Even with these great reasons to come to UW, leaving Texas wasn’t always easy for the senior wide receiver.
“The first couple years were a bit rough,” Fuller admitted. “It’s just a lot different than what I was used to back home. But as I made friends and got used to this place, I was able to find my niche. Definitely finding people outside of football made it more comfortable for me.”
In Texas, football is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life. Everyone plays football and everyone is involved.
“Being from Texas, football is just a part of the culture,” said Fuller. “We would be watching, playing or learning about football all the time. I was born into it.”
Because of football’s community and family influence, Fuller was frequently coached by his father.
“My dad was a high school coach and a big part of why I worked so hard at football,” said Fuller. “Really, he was my coach in every sport, no matter what. We would spend time looking at coverages, studying film, and working on all the details to help me improve my game constantly.”
All his hard work has truly paid off. Fuller currently ranks 10th all-time in both career receiving yards and receptions at UW, while being an effective target in each of his four years on Montlake.
In each category, he ranks among the names like Jermaine Kearse, Dante Pettis, Reggie Williams, Kasen Williams, and John Ross.
“It’s really cool knowing that you have some type of mark that you’re leaving on the university,” said Fuller. “I feel like my own growth has helped me take on a leadership role with helping the younger guys progress.
“When they see a guy who worked his butt off to make plays for years, it’s really a testament to how you can do anything, even if you’re coming in as a three-star recruit.”
And Fuller isn’t finished yet. With four more regular-season games to play this year, he has a chance to finish even higher on the UW career record boards. His connection with quarterback Jacob Eason is indicative of just how far Fuller can go.
“Fuller’s had a couple of great breakout games and he’s been fantastic,” said Eason. “We always have a game plan with specific packages for him. When it comes down to it, he runs great routes and he gets himself open for me to throw him the ball.”
And while he sits among the best Husky receivers in yards and receptions, he’s also one of the best when it comes to spectacular catches. Against Eastern Washington earlier this season, Fuller made two one-handed touchdown grabs in the same game.
But as a senior this year, Fuller has embraced more than just being one of the all-time great receivers in UW history. He’s focused on leaving a lasting legacy for his younger teammates.
This year, I’ve taken on a different kind of role as a leader. Dealing with injuries made me progress in that area. It’s been tough to have injuries on my end, but getting to help the younger guys has been great. I’ve been working to help the younger guys to find their footing, giving them advice, and just helping their mindset and making sure they are focused.Aaron Fuller
All in all, Fuller has made the most of his time at UW, and Seattle is like a second home.
“I’ve actually really loved the culture change,” said Fuller. “Being able to get out into the city, seeing the water, and eating seafood and everything else, I really like it here.”
But he isn’t exactly a fan of everything in Seattle.
“I like the rain sometimes, it’s good for games,” laughed Fuller. “But you got to know I’m a sunshine guy coming from Texas.”
Even despite the rain, Fuller has made some great memories in the Purple and Gold over the last four years.
"The 2016 year was great,” Fuller recalled. “The entire ride to the playoffs, seeing how our team fought through challenges and adversity. It was great to see and be a part of.”
In fact, there were so many memories for the senior that he couldn’t pick one as a favorite.
“I loved beating Oregon, the Pac-12 championship, and the big win at Stanford in 2016,” said Fuller. “The win against Stanford was actually on my birthday, too. That was awesome.”
And it is through all these memories that Fuller has made the most of and truly enjoyed his time here at the University of Washington.
I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. I bleed purple and gold.Aaron Fuller
