Turlock linebacker Noel-Johnson has a large presence on, off the field

James Peterson was intrigued by the new puppy’s size but fell in love with his bite.

Mustafa Noel-Johnson arrived from Colorado just before the start of his freshman year at Turlock High School with a body built for the rigors of varsity football. But it was his attitude and energy that earned him an early invitation from Peterson, the Bulldogs’ coach.

After grooming the then 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker for one season on the junior varsity team, Peterson ushered in a youth movement in 2014.

Noel-Johnson was one of three sophomores to start for the Bulldogs (6-5), the Central California Conference runner-up and a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff team. The others were shifty slot back Danny Velasquez, a first-team all-conference selection, and two-way lineman Nicolas Berry.

“If he would have just been a big kid that needed to learn quite a bit, we would have left him on the freshman team,” Peterson said. “But with his speed and tenacity, well, let’s just put it this way: He’s always brought a lot of energy to the table. It was impressive right away.”

Noel-Johnson didn’t disappoint in his varsity debut. He finished with 76 tackles and 2.5 sacks, fulfilling Peterson’s expectation of a defensive end in the Bulldogs’ 3-4 system.

“He had to be an athlete,” Peterson said. “Mustafa is 250 pounds, but he plays like he’s 215.”

Noel-Johnson was fast enough to create havoc in the backfield and strong enough to hold his own against offensive linemen. He was a playmaker on the edge, and CCC coaches noticed, anointing him with a first-team all-conference honor.

“(The varsity game) was a little faster, but I adjusted pretty well to it,” Noel-Johnson said. “I did a good job, but there’s always room for improvement. There’s always more that I can do. I want 100 tackles by the end of the year.”

Noel-Johnson hasn’t rested on his natural ability and physical gifts, though he’s added 2 inches and 20 pounds over the offseason. He was voted a team captain, a nod to his maturity and widespread respect in the locker room.

“That kid, he’s a good one. Not only is he a good athlete, but he’s a great kid, too,” Peterson said. “He’s one of our captains, because he goes above and beyond to help his teammates. He’s a junior playing like a senior.”

Noel-Johnson is just one part of a talented cast on defense. There is a wealth of varsity experience among the linebackers, where the Bulldogs welcome back Jericho Taamu (middle) and Bear Padilla (outside). Taamu was a first-team all-CCC pick. They’ll have protection over the top from safeties Velasquez and sophomore Dustin Grein, a newcomer who has impressed the coaching staff with his recovery speed.

“We’re in great shape this year with as many guys as we’ve got coming back,” Peterson said. “Our offense isn’t too shabby, either. If they put up any points, I think we’ll be fine with this defense.”

The defense struggled to gain traction early in defensive coordinator Raven Keene’s first season. Though he made subtle tweaks to the 3-4 base, change left Turlock vulnerable. The Bulldogs gave up 32 points per game through seven weeks and fell on the playoff bubble at 4-3.

“At the beginning, we were playing like individuals,” Noel-Johnson said.

Turlock was shredded 43-41 by Tracy, the eventual Division I finalist, and surrendered a season-high 47 points in a one-point win over Buhach Colony.

Over the final four weeks, Turlock yielded just 48 points and pushed CCC champion Merced and Tracy in games decided by three points or fewer.

“We had a brand new defensive coordinator, and he got in his system a little late,” Peterson said. “What you saw at the beginning of the season was guys getting used to it. By league, we were pretty polished. I’d like to see us do those things early, so when we hit league we’re a little further along.”

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Turlock linebacker Noel-Johnson has a large presence on, off the field."