Knoch’s Mullen hopes productivity translates to wins
JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch didn’t get many wins on the field in 2022, finishing 1-9.
But the Knights found a winner at quarterback.
Codi Mullen enters his junior season with Knoch’s single-season passing yardage record already in his back pocket. He threw for a school-record 1,689 yards last year and rushed for 430 more. He accounted for 16 touchdowns.
So how does the 5-foot-9, 170-pound signal-caller come up with an encore to that?
“Just increase those numbers,” Mullen said. “It’s all part of getting better. I know there’s a lot of areas I can grow as a quarterback.
“We’re hoping to do a lot more RPO’s this year. That means I have to do a better job of making my reads in terms of where I’m throwing the ball and whether to pull it down and run.
“I feel more comfortable rolling out and throwing, though my accuracy hasn’t been as good when I do that. I have to stay in the pocket a little longer and deliver the football. We all have to be on the same page for that to happen,” Mullen added.
Second-year Knoch coach Tim Burchett admits he’s putting a lot on his still-young quarterback — and has no problem doing it.
“Codi is a quiet leader,” Burchett said. “Hes not the rah-rah guy. He’s not the type to get in a teammate’s face to make a point. But he leads by example and the other kids follow him.
“He’s a very confident, dedicated player. Everybody else wants to do better because Codi wants to do better.”
Despite Mullen’s productivity throwing the football, Knoch completed only 50% of its passes last season.
“We need to get that percentage much higher this year and Codi will be a big part of that, obviously,” Burchett said. “He’s got a receiver back in Jackson Bauman, who accumulated 500 yards catching the ball as a freshman last year.”
Mullen said it didn’t take long to develop a rapport with Bauman.
“We’re going to be together for a couple of seasons yet and that’s exciting,” the quarterback said. “He’s a great dude. Jackson is an outstanding receiver, a big-play guy. It’s up to me to get the ball to him. He’s a difference-maker.”
Parker Anderson, the Knights’ starting right guard, said he just wants to give Mullen time to make plays.
“Codi is a special player,” Anderson said. “He finds ways to get the ball down the field. It’s fun blocking for an exciting player like him.”
He excels at more than quarterback, too.
Mullen is one of the Knights’ starting cornerbacks and his college football future may be at that position.
“If he was two inches taller, he’d be getting Division 1 looks right now,” Burchett said. “Codi is an outstanding cover guy. As good as he is at quarterback, his future is probably on the defensive side of the ball.”
Mullen wouldn’t mind such a thing.
“I just want to play,” he said. “College coaches do seem to like me more at corner. I’m fine with that.”
Burchett can’t help but smile when he talks about Mullen’s competitiveness.
“That kid wants to win at everything he does,” the coach said. “He could pick up any sport — lacrosse, soccer, baseball, whatever — and be the best at it. I’m just happy he’s playing for us.”
