Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1515937
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2024 51 2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER C ole Mullins was primed for a big se- nior season. However, the 6-foot- 4, 239-pounder suffered a low fibula fracture that also created an issue in his ankle during the final scrimmage lead- ing up to Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek's 2023 season opener. Mullins was forced to sit out the cam- paign with an estimated recovery time of 4-6 months. "I was really disappointed," Mullins said. "I worked all offseason on my pass rush and defensive end stuff because I knew I'd play that at Notre Dame. The fact that I couldn't show that to anyone and couldn't play my senior season was disappointing." He finished as a three-star across the board, but after giving his commitment to the Irish last April, the feeling was that he was a big stock-up prospect for his final year of prep football. He played mostly middle linebacker as a junior but was moving to defensive end in 2023. During a conversation with Blue & Gold Illustrated in early January, Mul- lins noted that he was about 75 percent recovered from his rehab. An early en- rollee at the university, he anticipates being fully recovered and able to par- ticipate in spring football. "I'm positive I'll be 100 percent for then," he stated. Mullins felt supported by Notre Dame's staff after they received the news of his injury. "It was relieving," he said. "They un- derstood and weren't worried about it." Mullins only visited Notre Dame's campus twice. His first South Bend visit occurred April 19, 2023, and that trip was all he needed to see prior to mak- ing his commitment. He announced his pledge three days later. Mullins returned to Notre Dame the weekend of June 9, 2023, for his official visit. He was unable to visit for a game in the fall. Despite going half a year without making it back to campus, Mullins con- tinued building a strong relationship with the staff. "It was really good," said Mullins. "They kept in touch and called me a couple times per week. I knew they were really busy, but they'd still call me after every game." It's to be determined exactly which position Mullins will play for the Fight- ing Irish. "They'll see what I turn into," he explained. "It could be strong side or COLE MULLINS LINEBACKER 6-4 · 239 MILL CREEK H.S. HOSCHTON, GA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 59 71 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 64 74 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 46 77 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 55 101 STATISTICS • Missed his senior season due to injury. • Notched 58 stops, 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries and 2 passes broken up in 15 games as a junior. • Helped lead Mill Creek to a Georgia 7A state championship victory in 2022, notching 10 tackles (2 for loss), 2 quarterback hurries and 1 pass bro- ken up in the state title game. NOTABLE • Earned a spot on the Georgia Athletics Coaches Association's 7A Regions 5-8 first-team defense in 2022. • Also played three seasons of baseball at Mill Creek. • Father, Pat, played football at Utah State, and his mother, Suzette, ran track for the Aggies. RECRUITMENT • Committed to the Fighting Irish on April 22, 2023. • Enrolled at Notre Dame in January. • Picked the Irish over offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, USC and others. • Recruited by defensive line coach Al Wash- ington. • Visited Notre Dame twice, including his official visit on June 9, 2023. 2024 PROJECTION • Is likely to redshirt as a true freshman. THEY SAID IT Blue & Gold recruiting writer Kyle Kelly: "There might not be an Irish signee who needed their se- nior season more than Cole Mullins. He needed it to demonstrate that he was much better than his current ranking indicates. As a junior, Mullins played mostly middle linebacker against the best compe- tition the state of Georgia has to offer. The Irish scouted Mullins as a vyper (weak-side defensive end) candidate. He planned to play a similar posi- tion on his high school team more full-time in 2023. "Unfortunately, a preseason lower leg injury knocked him out for the season. Mullins showed as a junior that he was a physical player who utilized his aggressiveness to shed blocks and make hard- hitting tackles — often in the backfield. Mill Creek High also relied on him to be a blocker on offense. They reaped the benefits of his nasty edge, which sprung open big plays." Georgia Pass Rusher Cole Mullins Is Looking To Bounce Back From Injury Mullins suffered an injury that knocked him out of his senior season, but he should be ready to go for spring practices in South Bend. PHOTO BY JEREMY JOHNSON/ON3 vyper; I'll play wherever they put me. "I'm excited and ready for something new. I am fired up to get to work." ✦