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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Former Troup Tiger King Mwikuta got his feet wet as a college-football player last season, and he’ll be looking to make a heavier impact during his sophomore year at the University of Alabama.

As a freshman in 2019, Mwikuta played in 10 games, primarily on special teams, and he had four tackles.

Mwikuta is listed as a backup linebacker as a new season gets started, and he’ll likely get some playing time as Alabama opens its season at Missouri on Saturday.

Mwikuta came to Alabama after a spectacular high-school career at Troup.

Mwikuta stepped into the starting lineup as a sophomore, and for three years he was one of the state’s elite defensive players.

During his senior season, Mwikuta helped Troup go 12-2 and reach the semifinals of the state playoffs for the second time in school history.

“King’s athletic accomplishments speak for themselves,” said Tanner Glisson, Mwikuta’s head coach at Troup. “He’s a tremendous athlete. What you get off the field is the character. I call King a self-made man. King had every reason in the world not to get to this point, whether it be some things that happened early in childhood, or difficulties in the class room. The persistence, the dedication, the work ethic is second to none. I think that’s the thing that separates him more than anything else.”

When he committed to Alabama, Mwikuta said he uses his mother as motivation for everything he does.

When Mwikuta was 7-years-old, his mother Carolyn Johnson died, and he was raised by his grandmother after that.

“Momma, I know you can’t be here today, but just look at what your son has accomplished,” Mwikuta said. “You gave me my name, King. You gave me that for a reason.”

Mwikuta added that “everything I do is for her. I know she wanted me to do everything right, from the time I left her, up until now.”