DECATUR — There were a lot of words floating around the library on Newton County High School’s campus Wednesday morning as two Cougar football players, Ethan McMullan and Telayes Cole, signed letters of intent to continue their educations and football careers at East Central Community College. 

Some of those words include “talent,” “ability,” “leadership” and “toughness,” words you would expect at a gathering of football players, coaches and parents — but there was another word that probably defines what these two young men mean to the Cougar family: bittersweet.

Bittersweet as in, it was bittersweet for head coach Gene Mitchell to be losing two players he called a joy to coach. All high school careers come to an end, though, and McMullan said he’s eager to get started with a new chapter.

“I’m just excited to be able to continue my career on the next level,” McMullan said. “I tore my ACL my junior year, so being able to sign and play on the next level proves that all of that hard work is paying off, and the coaches have pushed us to be the best we can be.” 

McMullan was a jack-of-all-trades for Mitchell, playing tight end, quarterback and linebacker. With that versatility, one would think that would be his biggest contribution, but Mitchell said that wasn’t it. 

“His willingness to get better as an athlete,” Mitchell said was McMullan’s best quality. :His tremendous dedication to his offseason work to hone his skills, whether it was at tight end, linebacker or quarterback, he was just willing to put the time in, and in my 40 years of coaching, he’s the most natural-born leader I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching.”

McMullan ends his high school career with 714 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, 229 receiving yards with one receiving touchdown and 784 passing yards with six passing touchdowns. Defensively, he had 98 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, three caused fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was a 2015 Region 5-4A first-team linebacker and was named the 2016 Region 5-4A athlete of the year. 

He is the Fellowship of Christian Athletes president, a member of the Beta Club and is in the TAG program. He is the son of Stephan and Eileen McMullan and plans to major in engineering. He is projected to play tight end for Ken Karcher’s Warriors next season. 

Cole, who was a defensive force for the Cougars, gave his coaches credit for helping him reach this goal. 

“I’m excited about getting to continue my education and to get to keep playing football,” Cole said. “I feel like I’m really prepared for this because my coaches have been coaching me up since my freshman year, and Coach Mitchell has taught me discipline and concentration, and I want to build on that at ECCC and get stronger and faster.”

Mitchell was a bit emotional when told of Cole’s comments. 

“That really makes my heart full,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes you wonder if you’re getting through, and to hear him say that just makes what we do worth all of the hard work. Telayes was a joy to coach. Last season against West Lauderdale, he made play after play, and the light came on for him. He played with that intensity the remainder of 2015, and carried it with him into this season and just got better and better. I have the utmost confidence that Talayes and Ethan will be playing on Saturdays and very possibly on to the next level. They have been a joy to coach.”

Cole finished his high school career with 226 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one touchdown from his defensive end position. He was a 2015 Region 5-4A first-team defensive lineman and a 2016 Region 5-4A Super 22 defensive lineman. 

Cole is the son of Kim Cole, who also felt bittersweet on the day. 

“He’s my last child,” Kim Cole said. “It’s sad for me, but it’s great to see him prosper, continue his education and get to keep playing this game that he dearly loves.” 

Cole is set to play defensive end at East Central. 

McMullan and Cole will join former teammate Jamario Craft, who signed with the Warriors after last season.