Notre Dame Commit Profile: Defensive End Cole Mullins

A look at Notre Dame 2024 defensive end commit Cole Mullins

Notre Dame picked up a very important commitment from Georgia defensive end Cole Mullins. The Fighting Irish need another big year along the defensive line and Mullins is the type of player that can be part of a big time defensive line class.

Here's the Irish Breakdown commit profile for Mullins:

COLE MULLINS PROFILE

Hometown/High School: Hoschton, Ga./Mill Creek

Height/Weight: 6-4, 240

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Player Comp: Marcus Smith, Louisville

2022 Stats: 58 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 6 QB hurries
2021 Stats: 32 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 8 QB hurries

Recruited By: Al Washington, Al Golden

Offers: Notre Dame, USC, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Duke, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Virginia, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Northwestern, Kansas, Vanderbilt

RECRUITING RANKINGS

Rivals: 3-star - No. 45 Outside Linebacker
247Sports: 3-star - No. 52 Edge
ESPN: 3-star - No. 58 Defensive End
On3: 3-star - No. 60 Edge
On3 Consensus: 3-star - No. 621 overall - No. 45 Edge
247 Composite: 3-star - No. 646 overall - No. 45 Edge

FILM ANALYSIS

Mullins has skills that fit both the Vyper and Field End positions in the Notre Dame defense. That versatility is just one factor that makes Mullins an important pickup for Notre Dame. Right now the staff appears to view Mullins as a Vyper that can play multiple spots.

Notre Dame has also worked hard in recent seasons to add length and size to the edge position, and Mullins certainly brings that. He checked in at over 6-4 during his visit and he shows well above average arm length. With his frame, once Mullins gets into a college strength program and once he focuses on defensive line instead of linebacker he should be able to get to at least 260 pounds with relative ease.

Mullins plays with impressive power as both a linebacker and defensive end. The Mill Creek defender has strong hands and a good punch, traits that will allow him to become quite good at block destruction once his technique improves. His short area power allows him to arrive at the football with a lot of force.

Mullins is a strong athlete for his size. As an edge player he fires off the ball with impressive burst, especially when he's in a two-point stance. I love the motor he shows when engaging off the edge, and his closing speed in pursuit is outstanding. A 240-pound defender that can flow laterally and close on the football the way Mullins does when he's playing inside linebacker is just not something you see very often. Mullins has top-notch balance and he's a nimble athlete that has the foot quickness and change of direction you want and need as a Vyper.

At times Mullins will play too high when he's attacking from a two-point stance, but he has the ability to bend and play with better pad level. It will require him to just be more consistent with this when he doesn't have a hand in the ground. His block destruction is solid for his age, but the ability to punch and disengage, and use his hands to keep blockers off his body are ares where he'll need to continue developing from a repertoire standpoint.

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Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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