MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football cornerback Marice Fluellen recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss his path to South Alabama, what he likes most about playing on special teams and what eventually would like to do after his playing career, among other things.

Fluellen, a senior from Dothan, Ala., has been a member of the Jaguar program since the 2016 season.  Fluellen made his first Jaguar appearance in South's Senior Day victory over Arkansas State where he was credited with a solo tackle and earned the coaches' special teams award. Fluellen also added a pair of stops in the regular-season finale at New Mexico State.  He was chosen as the offensive scout team player of the week by the coaches following Homecoming victory over ULM, and was named the special teams scout team award winner by the coaches after win over 19th-ranked San Diego State during the 2016 season.

If you could, talk about your path to South Alabama.
"I was offered by South Alabama out of high school, but I had trouble with some of my ACT score. That forced me to go to junior college and I went to Jones County. After that, I ended up coming here."

What do you feel your role on this team is?
"I feel that I'm a very unselfish team player. It try to help out the younger guys learning the plays and different schemes. I try to bring effort and energy to practice every day."

What's been your favorite moment during your time here at South?
"My favorite moment would definitely be our game last season against Arkansas State. I was able to get in the game on kickoff coverage and was able to make a tackle on my first rep."

A majority of your time has been on the scout and special teams units. What has that experience been like for you?
"It's been a good experience for me. On scout team, I've been able to go against the top-notch players on offense going against the 1s. I've been able to compete at a high level. I've just tried to go out there every day and give good effort when I competed."

What do you like most about playing on special teams?
"Playing on special teams is all about effort. If you give good effort, you usually do well on special teams. I also like special teams because it brings everyone together; it's not just offensive or defensive players, we are just one. That unit also allows people to make plays and it plays a big part in the game."

How have you improved from the offseason conditioning program?
"I feel like both my strength and conditioning has improved as a result of it. This summer was hard. Our motto under the new coaching staff was 'Get better every day'. Every day I just kept that in the back of my head and I feel that I achieved that."

What area(s) do you see yourself having improved the most?
"I would definitely say in my man-to-man technique. I feel that I've improved in that area. We play man-to-man a lot and I have better conditioning, which has helped me with my running. I've also worked on my eyes."

What goals did you set for yourself coming into this season?
"I wanted to be able to play on every snap of special teams, win a conference championship and just bring the best effort I can every day."

What are you wanting to do after your football career is over?
"I want to go into the coaching profession. I want to either start out as either a graduate assistant or I might reconnect with one of my former high school coaches and team up with them."

What level of coaching do you hope to eventually reach?
"I want to either coach high school at a high level or in college; being a college coach is my dream job. I know at first I most likely will have to start off at the high school level."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I like to play either 2K or Fortnite. I also like to take my son to the park and play around with him."

How old is you son and what has fatherhood been like for you?
"He's six months old. Becoming a father has been a life-changing experience. Just being able to see him and seeing him grown and being a part of his life has been a learning experience for me. I'm just taking it step by step."

How do you feel like you have improved since junior college?
"When I first started junior college my technique was a bit 'wild catish' and I pretty much was doing my own thing there. When I got to South, I learned what the expectations of myself were and what techniques I needed to be using. I learned about where my alignment was supposed to be and where my eyes were supposed to be. My man-to-man technique has also improved."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"The biggest influence would have to be my cousin, Kehandre Martin. He influenced me to play football and pushed me every day in high school to make sure I got better. He was a year older than me and really pushed me hard; that's how I got better and earned scholarship offers during my junior and senior years of high school."

What do you feel are some of the key points the team needs to do the rest of the season in order to be successful?
"We just need to play hard and give it all we got. We just need to do what we are coached to do. If we do that, we will win every time."

Where do you feel the team has progress most since the start of the season?
"I think we've come together a lot closer than we have in the past. Usually wide receivers and defensive backs haven't been cool with each other, but now we can talk with each other and hang out. From the offensive line to the defensive line, we are all friends and look at each other as brothers."

What other sports did you play in high school or growing up?
"The only other sport I played in high school was track. I played basketball and baseball when I was younger growing up."

How do you feel playing those other sports helped you develop as a football player?
"My mom used to tell me that I was using basketball to help me get into condition for football season. I used to just go out there and run because I couldn't dribble that well; that's why I stopped playing basketball. With baseball, I pitched my first three years and actually did pretty well, but I just couldn't find the love for the game. I ran track and won state three times. When I was 12 years old I won the 50-meter dash at Jacksonville State [University] at a meet there."

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