By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó When Carson started its football program three years ago, John Mullis was a scrawny sophomore who just wanted to get out on the playing field.
Cougar assistant Travis Billings remembers the conversation he had with Mullis.
“I told him, ‘I need some linebackers,’ ” Billings said. “He said, ‘Coach, I’m a cornerback.’ I said, ‘I see you as a linebacker.’ He said, ‘Coach, I’m a corner.’ ”
“I was dead set against being a linebacker,” Mullis chuckled.
But Billings had other ideas. He liked the kid’s heart and determination, despite the 140-pound frame. Mullis eventually had a change of heart and approached head coach Mark Woody.
“He told me he was going to be my starting linebacker,” Woody laughed. “I said, ‘Great!’ ”
Woody was saying, “Great” again recently when Mullis agreed to a scholarship offer from Division III Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, just north of Columbus. The school has played football for 118 years and is currently a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference.
It’s similar to Davidson academically. That’s where Mullis, who carries a 4.3 GPA, thought he was headed.
“Things didn’t work out with Davidson,” Woody said. “But we believe things happen for the right reason. Kenyon’s excited about getting John. I’m so happy for him.”
The Lords are getting a player who reshaped his body after Billings talked him into the position switch. Mullis now walks around as a 6-foot, 190-pound rock.
“I knew he had the potential,” Billings said. “Whether he could get his body to that point was questionable. It’s a feather in his cap that he did what he had to do.”
What Mullis did was listen to Dustin Craft, now a sophomore at Catawba.
“He took me under his wing in his senior year and I started lifting with him,” Mullis said. “I was not naturally athletic or strong so I kept lifting. Dustin wouldn’t let me stop.”
Mullis turned into the fourth-leading tackler in the state during his senior season.
“The weight room is an attitude,” Woody said, “and it carries over to the field. John took full advantage of it.”
Kenyon College was unknown to anyone at Carson until Mullis filled out a questionaire and sent tape. Now, Woody is totally impressed, especially with the facilities, which he called, “gorgeous.”
“They play on astro-turf,” Mullis said.
The Lords didn’t play very well on any turf last season, finishing 1-9. While the offense racked up 4,602 yards to break the school record for the fourth consecutive year, the defense suffered, giving up 37 points per game.
“They said they were in need of a linebacker,” Mullis said. “They like me. They want me to expect being a four-year starter. Defensive speed is definitely what they’re lacking.”
Mullis said he would leave for Ohio in June or July for a summer program.
“If I’m going to be a starter, I might as well get up there and learn,”he said.
Academics also drew Mullis to the school. He will major in political science and pre-law.
“Kenyon academics is one of the best in the country,” Mullis said. “I felt if I passed that up it would have a major effect on my life and how much money I make.”
Mullis hopes he can help turn around the Lords just as he did with his high school. Carson was winless in Mullis’ first two seasons but broke through for three in 2008.
“It has definitely been an experience,” Mullis said of his prep career. “Coaches never stopped believing in us. Everything takes time to develop.”
Don’t believe that? Just look at Mullis’ body.
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Woody said Carson isn’t through sending seniors to college. Daniel Yates, a speedy receiver who can also play running back or defensive back, is next, he said.
Woody’s sophomores are already getting attention. He said Syracuse has inquired about Shaun Warren, the Cougars’ first-ever 1,000 yard rusher.