Samantha Pullins is a midfielder from Gurnee, Illinois, who attended Warren Township High and played for coach Ryan McCabe. Pullins earned all-conference, all-area and all-sectional team honors while helping her team to a regional championship as a junior, her only year of high school soccer. With the GLSA Libertyville FC 1974 Illinois club team and coach Srgjan Smileski, Pullins was a team captain and five-time Illinois state cup champion. Her team made the USYS Midwest Regional Semifinals in 2021, and she was named the conference’s U17 club vs. club best XI player and the club vs. club champion in 2021. A national championship and regional qualifier in 2019-20, Pullins won a U16 division title in 2019-20, qualified for the national championship and won a regional title in 2017-18.
Pullins is the No. 11-ranked recruit in the Midwest region by Top Drawer Soccer.
Pullins was named to the honor roll as a sophomore and junior at Warren Township.
Pullins is undecided on her major, but she would like to start her own business after receiving her Purdue degree and finishing her playing career. Her parents are Rachel King and Jeremy Pullins. She has several cousins who are collegiate athletes, as Katie Webb (Wells) played soccer at Indiana State, Tyler Negron played football at James Madison, Hunter Hickman wrestled at VMI, Riley Hickman ran cross country at DePauw and Eli Hickman played baseball at Concordia.
Samantha Pullins on Purdue: “Purdue became my top choice since I first saw the campus and facilities. While attending an ID camp, I just loved the team chemistry and bond the girls have. The coaches were amazing to work with and I know they will do a great job bringing out the best in me. Purdue will be challenging yet rewarding both academically and athletically. I want to be part of something special and believe I have found that at Purdue.”
Coach Drew Roff on Pullins: “Sam is a versatile midfielder who brings some special qualities to the game. She is a very good athlete and has the technical ability we look for to play in the middle of the park. Her field vision, and her ability to play the final pass with proper weight and accuracy, are a great fit for the attacking style we like to play. If a forward makes a great run, Sam is willing and able to reward a great run with a great pass. She also is an intense competitor who will fit in very well with our team culture. I look forward to Sam joining our program and having a very successful career in the Old Gold and Black.”
Pullins is the No. 11-ranked recruit in the Midwest region by Top Drawer Soccer.
Pullins was named to the honor roll as a sophomore and junior at Warren Township.
Pullins is undecided on her major, but she would like to start her own business after receiving her Purdue degree and finishing her playing career. Her parents are Rachel King and Jeremy Pullins. She has several cousins who are collegiate athletes, as Katie Webb (Wells) played soccer at Indiana State, Tyler Negron played football at James Madison, Hunter Hickman wrestled at VMI, Riley Hickman ran cross country at DePauw and Eli Hickman played baseball at Concordia.
Samantha Pullins on Purdue: “Purdue became my top choice since I first saw the campus and facilities. While attending an ID camp, I just loved the team chemistry and bond the girls have. The coaches were amazing to work with and I know they will do a great job bringing out the best in me. Purdue will be challenging yet rewarding both academically and athletically. I want to be part of something special and believe I have found that at Purdue.”
Coach Drew Roff on Pullins: “Sam is a versatile midfielder who brings some special qualities to the game. She is a very good athlete and has the technical ability we look for to play in the middle of the park. Her field vision, and her ability to play the final pass with proper weight and accuracy, are a great fit for the attacking style we like to play. If a forward makes a great run, Sam is willing and able to reward a great run with a great pass. She also is an intense competitor who will fit in very well with our team culture. I look forward to Sam joining our program and having a very successful career in the Old Gold and Black.”