“I’m just frustrated with my body not being able to hold up," Mularkey said. "That’s the only reason I’m not playing anymore. But I’m going to stay in school [and] I’m going to continue to take classes.”
Mularkey, son of Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, played in the first two games of the 2010 season before injuring his left shoulder. The Norcross, Ga., native underwent surgery on Oct. 7 to repair his shoulder and missed the remainder of the season. He had missed his junior season of high school three years prior as a result of a shoulder injury.
“I have two bad shoulders through four years of high school and college," he said. "And I can’t do it any more, unfortunately."
The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder was considered on asset on special teams and totaled nine tackles in 13 games as a freshman. Mularkey was given the Jeffrey Cowell Memorial Outstanding Freshman Award for his play on special teams during the 2009 season.
“It was a family decision for my future and I just want to be able to have shoulders for the rest of my life,” he said. “A lot of people went into this decision – it wasn’t something I made on a whim.
"It’s just me accepting the fact that my body can’t take it anymore.”