Another Fullington, another athletic scholarship

His older brother was known for a high-velocity fastball that attracted college and professional scouts to Port Orchard.

But North Mason junior John Fullington doesn’t even play baseball.

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Fullington, who competes in basketball and track, gave an oral commitment to play football last month at Washington State University. Commitments are non-binding until players sign a letter-of-intent.

Fullington’s older brother, Josh, played football and baseball for the Wolves until he graduated in 2004. He committed to play baseball at WSU, but never signed and instead went to Dixie State in Utah. The older Fullington, who no longer plays baseball, now is a senior psychology major at the University of Washington.

Fullington, who maintains a 3.4 grade-point average, said he selected WSU over interest from UW, Oregon and Stanford. He said the Cougars were the only team to offer him, but Huskies running-backs coach Joel Thomas, a Port Angeles graduate who played at the University of Idaho, called him last weekend to persuade him to consider UW. But Fullington said his decision is final.

“It’s where I’m going,” said Fullington, who attended WSU’s junior day last weekend. “I loved it.”

He plays tight end and defensive end at North Mason, but Fullington said the Cougars see him as an offensive lineman. The Bulldogs attended WSU’s team camp last summer and said wide receivers coach Mike Levenseller, who recruits the Olympic Peninsula, has followed him since then.

Fullington said Levenseller liked his athleticism, size and character.

He committed Feb. 16 after pondering the whether to accept the offer for a couple of weeks on the advice of his father, Mark, who played at Weber State in Utah.

His grandparents on his father’s side are UW graduates, but Fullington said his mother’s parents are WSU alumni who live in Pullman. Fullington said everyone was excited about his decision, though.

“My grandma and grandpa — the Huskies — they got the Cougars sweatshirts,” he said. “They’re going to switch for me.”

Fullington, whose family lives on Mission Lake, said he chose to attend North Mason instead of South Kitsap because most of his childhood friends were going to the former.

“I’ve grown up here and made a lot of friends,” Fullington said. “I don’t want to leave them.”

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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