Mullen prepares for life at Indiana after brother wins title with Clemson

ROYAL PALM BEACH — Tiawan Mullen got to watch his brother, Trayvon, make crucial plays to help Clemson beat Alabama in the National Championship Game on Jan. 7.

The older Mullen had an interception and a sack in the Tigers’ win and was named the defensive player of the game. Now the younger Mullen will have a chance to live up to his brother’s college football legacy as he prepares to enroll at Indiana.

“Watching him making big plays on the big stage is motivating,” Mullen said at the Florida Fire 7-on-7 open run on Saturday.

“It makes me grind harder. If he can do it, I can do it.”

Mullen, a first-team AllCounty pick, wrapped up his senior season at Coconut Creek with 45 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also got a chance to showcase his talents in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 5. He had three tackles and a pass break up in the game.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal, and being an All-American will always be on my resume,” Mullen said. “Not too many people get a chance to be an AllAmerican.” Mullen is rated a threestar prospect in 247Sports’ composite rating, which also ranks him as the No. 533 player in the 2019 class and the No. 56 cornerback in the class.

Mullen said he’s not nervous at all about adjusting to Big 10 football.

“I don’t get nervous, but going into a different level — football is football — but going to the next stage, I know it’s going to be a lot faster. I might have to get used to it, get bigger, stronger and faster,” he said. “But I’m not nervous, though. I’m from South Florida, Broward County. I don’t get nervous.” pick, is trying to make sure the Raiders don’t suffer another defeat in Orlando.

“We came up at states short,” Restrepo said. “So that feeling [was the] worst feeling I’ve ever had in my life. We’re just trying to get back there and redeem ourselves.”

Restrepo said playing 7-on-7 has helped him improve and prepared him to make a bigger impact in St. Thomas’ passing game.

“It’s helped me grow a lot, a long way,” he said. ”Going up against guys like Tiawan Mullen, Jaden Davis, Jordan Battle, Akeem Dent, guys like that, the best all-around. So it’s bettered me as an athlete and as a person, too.”

Tiawan Mullen