How Northwestern’s ‘Ninja Turtles’ became one of the best defensive lines in the state

Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo.

Northwestern starting defensive linemen Mason Grier, Danijay McMullen, Dmitri Putman II and Andre Pickett.

What do these two groups have in common?

Both are tight-knit groups of four separate personalities; both are known for their dominance and brilliance; both are also better known as “The Ninja Turtles.”

Head football coach Page Wofford came up with the term for his starting front four last year.

“If (Andre talks to you), that’s good because he doesn’t talk a whole lot,” Wofford said. “Dmitri is one of the top student athletes in our school. He’s (top 10 in his class). Danijay is a great all-around guy, and Mason is so charismatic, people are drawn to him and his electric personality. You got four different guys, and I just grew up watching the Ninja Turtles, and I thought it would be pretty neat.”

All four are senior starters who started last year as juniors, combining for 218 tackles, 56.5 tackles for loss, 24 sacks, five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles last season.

They all came to Northwestern from different schools: Putman, McMullen and Grier entered as freshmen from Rawlison Road, Dutchman Creek and Saluda Trail middle schools. Pickett transferred to Northwestern at the end of his freshman year at Burns High School in Lawndale, North Carolina.

Everyone also made the varsity team as sophomores. Putman, McMullen and Grier made the jump from Northwestern’s ninth-grade team to varsity; Pickett started at offensive tackle for Burns as a freshman.

“I was 14, 15 years old going against (18-year-olds), so I had no choice but to step my game up and be competitive,” Pickett said. “It’s easier to read the offensive linemen because I played it, so I know what you’re going to do.”

Wofford said the group showed the physical and mental maturity required to handle varsity roles heading into their sophomore years, but it definitely was an adjustment for everyone involved.

“It was eye-opening,” McMullen said. “Going from ninth grade to varsity is a big jump because it’s all business. When you’re in ninth grade, it’s just opening your eyes to high school ball, but at the varsity level, you have to have a different mindset. You just have to attack and go at 100% with everything you do.”

As sophomores, the young guys showed the ability to make plays in big spots.

In the 2022 Upper State Championship at Greenville, an interception by Grier sparked a Northwestern rally in a double-digit comeback win.

“Nothing really (was going through my mind in that moment),” Grier said. “I wasn’t thinking. I was just so nervous, but I was ready to play.”

Having a group in the same class learn and grow into one of the top defensive lines in the state is a unique experience. The starting unit has combined for offers from schools including North Carolina Central, North Greenville and Davidson.

Even entering his 38th year as Northwestern’s defensive line coach, David Pierce said he hasn’t experienced anything like it before.

However, neither the longtime assistant coach nor his starters will get caught up in the hype.

“With great accolades come great responsibility,” Pierce said. “They have great takeoff, great hands, they take great coaching, and they put in the work. I don’t know if they work harder than anybody else out here; they’re part of a team. They’re part of a pretty good defense. They do what they’re asked to do, and in their heart they’re good kids who work hard.”

The group is pretty close and hangs out at times, but the players also enjoy where they are separately.

Grier spends a lot of his time training in football. Pickett has 20 dogs that he takes care of daily. McMullen takes a natural role as a leader of the unit, while Putman is known as the most reserved in the group.

There are nine seasons of varsity experience among the four of them, but it’s the synergy they have with one another that makes them so disruptive.

“I guess that gives us an edge because we’re so experienced,” McMullen said. “But when we first came in together, it was the mindset we got, we already knew (what we had to do). The experience played a big part as far as us winning games and playing together as one, but the connection that all four of us have is really what elevates us.”

Heading into their senior seasons, no one has any personal goals, just one major one: Win a state title.

Northwestern lost to South Florence in the state championship game two years ago before losing in the third round to Greenville last year. Getting that coveted piece of jewelry is the lone thing that rests in their minds.

“We all have to play as one unit,” Putman said. “We all make plays together, and we’ll all do our part to get to our goal, and that’s to win a state championship. ... We all push ourselves to be better.”

Wofford said his defensive line has put in the work to warrant the name “Ninja Turtles.”

He’s excited to see what they bring to the table in his sixth season leading Northwestern as the Trojans move back up to 5A this year.

“They kind of have clung to it a little bit, they run with it a little bit too,” Wofford said. “It doesn’t work if they’re not any good. ... They’re four pretty good players who are good kids and good role models and good examples of student-athletes in Rock Hill School District Three. They’re living up to that moniker now, and it’s been pretty cool.”

Northwestern will play in its first scrimmage in the McDonald’s Kickoff Classic at Union County High School against J.L. Mann at 7 p.m. Aug. 8.

The Trojans open their regular season at 2024 Charlotte Kickoff Night at Memorial Stadium in Charlotte against Hough at 5:15 p.m. Aug. 23.