Ever since he started playing football at Loyola, Cody Sullivan said his goal was to earn a college scholarship.
It took longer than he had initially hoped it would, but the 2013 Loyola graduate finally realized his pursuit last month when Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey put him on scholarship after two seasons as a preferred walk-on.
Sullivan, a 6-0, 224-pound linebacker, said he wants to finish out his college career on a free ride as he works his way up the depth chart. Last season, Sullivan was third string at linebacker, and he mostly played on special teams.
“[Carey] told me how happy he’s been with how I’ve progressed,” said Sullivan, who was a redshirt freshman during the 2014 season. “He told me to keep doing what I am doing.”
Even though Sullivan didn’t see much action during games last season, Loyola coach John Holecek said he wasn’t surprised the NIU coaches extended the offer.
“He was one of the best, most instinctive and toughest players I’ve coached,” Holecek said. “He was one of those kids who just got it. I know he was disappointed he didn’t play much last year. He has his sights set much higher than special teams.”
Sullivan is one of 16 walk-ons from his freshman season that remains on the roster. He said it wasn’t an easy road to earning the scholarship, but he said it was worth it.
More Top Picks Best Three Wheel Mobility Scooters For Maneuverability
“When I first got here, I took a team-first approach,” he said. “I wanted to do what I could to help out. It’s definitely nice to get recognized for what I’ve done here. It was a few years later, but it made it feel that much better.”
Twitter: @harnesspreps