Westfield graduate Mike King excels at Christopher Newport University

Nine years ago, if you told Mike King that he’d still be playing football, there’s a good chance that he would have politely laughed and told you that you didn’t know what you were talking about.

“I wasn’t very good. I wasn’t really physical as a kid, I was a little soft growing up,” said King with a laugh.

“I remember my first day of contact, I kind of hated it.”

Well that was nine years ago and much has changed. King is a senior at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va., where he starts at linebacker and is also a team captain. As the playclock gets closer to expiring on his playing days, the emotional leader reflected on his career and the game he loves.

“Football has done wonders for me. I really don’t know where I’d be without it. The one thing I love so much is being out there on game days and playing,” said King.

“My best memories to date are making plays on Fridays and Saturdays, bonding with my teammates. Those are some of the best times I’ve had in my life.”

King fell in love with football as an eighth grader and his fascination with the sport grew as he watched the 2003 Westfield Bulldogs win the Virginia AAA Division 6 state championship. Little did he know, however, that he would have a state championship of his own in the near future.

After playing on Westfield’s freshman and junior varsity teams, King earned the starting middle linebacker job as a junior. He started every game for the Bulldogs that year and established himself as one of the team's leaders. As a senior, he helped guide the Bulldogs to a 15-0 record in 2007 and to their second Virginia AAA Division 6 state title in five years.

Kyle Simmons, Westfield’s current head coach, was King's defensive coordinator and got to know his former player very well. The two continue to speak frequently and Simmons still holds King in high regard as a football player and young man.

“Mike came to practice locked in every single day. He was intense; he was a student of the game and made himself the best he could have possibly been with his ability. It meant so much to him and he played with so much intensity,” Simmons said.

“He was a true teammate. He made the guys around him better, encouraged them and he never quit.”

King’s strong work ethic and high football acumen followed him south to Christopher Newport University, but collided with adversity during his first two years of college. He started six games as a freshman but missed the rest of the season because of a violation of team rules. He tore his labrum and bicep tendon during his sophomore year. And although he continued to play through the injuries, he was forced to share playing time.

“I worked my butt off all that offseason in the weight room and got faster and beat out the guy I was splitting time with. I really redeemed myself,” said King.

He returned with vengeance last season and finished the year with 99 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, two blocked punts and one interception. Hardly a shabby stat line for a guy who overcame two serious injuries just one year earlier. He also earned First Team All-USA South and VaSID Second Team All-State honors.

For his efforts this season, King was recently invited to participate in the 2011 Division III Football Senior Classic, an early December all-star game held at Salem Stadium in Salem, Va.

The once self-admitted soft and intimidated kid has grown into a tough and intimidating college football player. And he has enjoyed the ride each step of the way. As the curtain begins to slowly fall on King’s football playing career, each game will become a bit harder to leave behind.

“He’s a fine young man and a good student athlete. He’s done a good job down here. He’s a very intense competitor who really enjoys playing and has a good nose for the ball,” says Matt Kelchner, Christopher Newport’s head football coach.

“He’s a great kid and I really like him. He enjoys playing the game and he plays it the right way.”

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that King received a scholarship, but he did not.