Throughout the years, tight end has been a staple of University of Louisville football offenses. From Ibn Green, Jaime Asher, and Ronnie Ghent; to Gary Barnidge, Cole Hikutini, and Gerald Christian; the Cardinals have a rich history at the position. That phenomenon does not seem to be changing in the Scott Satterfield era. The coaching staff has put a reasonable point of emphasis on recruiting tight ends to make the offense more dynamic and carry on the tradition. In turn, they landed Ottawa, IL native Vic Mullen to be the next one in a long line of excellence.
After a great call with Coach Holt I am extremely excited to announce that I have received an offer to play at The University of Louisville!!! Thank you to @coachstuholt @CoachSattUofL @pete_nochta13 @Coach_Ledford. @AllenTrieu @DeepDishFB @CoachBigPete @4Marquette pic.twitter.com/h8dk41x3R9
— Vic Mullen (@MullenVic) March 20, 2020
For Mullen, his recruitment was a unique one; it wasn’t until this past September that he received significant interest. In the 2020 calendar year, multiple teams have been checking in on the Marquette High School senior, but the Louisville offer on March 20th was a game changer. “Louisville just felt like home to me since the first time I set foot on campus,” Mullen explained. “They know how to treat me right and I feel that I will fit well into their program.” Fits within a program are important, but for him, relationships sealed the deal. Just over a month after being offered, Mullen pledged his commitment to the Cardinals. “I have a great relationship with coaches Stu Holt and Zeb Speir. Their team has a family atmosphere, which is very important to me,” he said. “They just wanted to build a personal relationship and show that Louisville was the place for me.”
Mullen’s relationships aren’t just limited to the coaches, though. He has been active on social media with other commitments and respective recruits, promoting the brand. Like many others, his views for the 2021 class are specific. “We have something special as a class. We are setting a school record for the highest rated class in history, and are all becoming close; I can’t wait to get on campus with them,” he pointed out. “I want Cardnation to know that this class is like no other. We will bring home win after win; we will be ready to get this program to the record-breaking team we know it can be.”
COMMITTED!!!🐤🟥 Thankful for this opportunity! L’s UP!!! @AllenTrieu @DeepDishFB @jdemling @RivalsDave @pete_nochta13 @coachstuholt @CoachSattUofL @4Marquette pic.twitter.com/LV5bsgM2QT
— Vic Mullen (@MullenVic) May 5, 2020
After committing in early May, Mullen has heard from Appalachian State and Syracuse, but he continues to remain solid in his pledge. “Louisville will be my home for the next four years and I’m super excited to start training and playing with the boys,” he exclaimed. The 3-star tight end is a top-800 player in the 2021 class and a top-35 prospect at his position (247Sports Composite). Quick for his long 6-foot-6 frame with good hands, Mullen is able to create matchup problems all over the field. Playing in a run-first offense, he has been exceptional at blocking not only at the line of scrimmage, but down the field as well. “I feel like I do a good job at putting my nose down and taking on any guy in my way. I will continue to perfect my route running, but I feel I can be a threat in the red zone,” he added.
Satterfield and the rest of the coaching staff has had a knack for identifying diamonds in the rough, and Mullen perfectly fits the bill. Louisville could use him as a run-blocking tight end or as an H-back like Marshon Ford. It can be inferred that his versatility and strong style of play will find him in various packages. For Mullen, selflessness is the name of the game. “I can describe myself as hard working and always ready to do what I have to do to get the team where it needs to be,” he explained. “I will always put the team first and anything they ask of me, I will do.”
However, for Mullen, football is more than just a sport. It’s a mixture of lessons learned along with creating tight relationships. “I’ve gone through obstacles that have set me back and I’ve had to learn to push through it and be the best I can be. I play the game of football and love it so much because playing the game makes bonds with your brothers that you will never lose. Football is more than a game and it teaches you life long lessons.” Overall, he epitomizes what it is to be a Cardinal. Tough times come, but having people around you to experience life with will strengthen bonds over the years.
