Derrell Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Derrell Lavoice "Mookie" Mitchell (born September 16, 1971 in Miami, Florida
) is a former Canadian Football League
slotback
.
. As a sophomore, he was an NJCAA second team All-American pick, and was his league's co-Player of the Year.
. He finished his two-year NCAA college football
career with 91 receptions for 1312 yards (14.42 yards per rec. avg.) and 9 touchdowns.
with the Scottish Claymores
of the World League of American Football
, having been allocated there by the New Orleans Saints
, catching 11 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown.
in 1997 and immediately made a mark in the league with close to 1,500 yards and 17 TD's receiving in his first season in the league, going on to win the 1997 CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
. Days later, Mitchell and the Argonauts went on to win the Grey Cup
in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1998 he took his game one step forward catching a CFL-record 160 receptions for 2,000 yards. After a failed tryout in the National Football League
in 1999, Mitchell returned to the Argos and consistently put up 1,000-yard or close to 1,000-yard seasons.
In 2004 he was released by the Argonauts, and was promptly signed by the Edmonton Eskimos
who he helped win the 2005 Grey Cup
a season later. Mitchell was eventually released by Edmonton on June 23, 2007. On July 2, 2007, Mitchell rejoined the Argonauts by signing a practice agreement with the team. On July 11, 2007, he was put on the active roster in time for a game against the Calgary Stampeders
the following day and scored a touchdown in his first game back with the Argonauts. On July 26, 2007, Mitchell set a new Argonaut record for career receiving yards after catching a pass from Damon Allen
in a home game against the Montreal Alouettes
, surpassing former record holder Paul Masotti
's 8772 receiving yards. On October 27, 2007, Mitchell surpassed 12,000 career receiving yards in the CFL against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
.
He was released by the Argonauts on March 20, 2008.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
) is a former Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
slotback
Slotback
Slotback is a position in Gridiron football . The slotback is similar to the wide receiver but also has many of the same traits as a running back, lines up closer to the offensive line and often farther back...
.
Junior College Career
Mitchell attended Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...
. As a sophomore, he was an NJCAA second team All-American pick, and was his league's co-Player of the Year.
College career
After a stellar career at Joliet Junior College, Mitchell transferred to Texas TechTexas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
. He finished his two-year NCAA college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
career with 91 receptions for 1312 yards (14.42 yards per rec. avg.) and 9 touchdowns.
World League Career
Mitchell spent the 1995 season1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
with the Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
of the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
, having been allocated there by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, catching 11 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown.
CFL career
Mitchell signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFLCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
in 1997 and immediately made a mark in the league with close to 1,500 yards and 17 TD's receiving in his first season in the league, going on to win the 1997 CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
. Days later, Mitchell and the Argonauts went on to win the Grey Cup
85th Grey Cup
The 85th Grey Cup was held in 1997 in Edmonton before 60,431 fans. The heavily favoured Toronto Argonauts won the game over the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a score of 47-23.-Game summary:...
in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1998 he took his game one step forward catching a CFL-record 160 receptions for 2,000 yards. After a failed tryout in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 1999, Mitchell returned to the Argos and consistently put up 1,000-yard or close to 1,000-yard seasons.
In 2004 he was released by the Argonauts, and was promptly signed by the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
who he helped win the 2005 Grey Cup
93rd Grey Cup
The 93rd Grey Cup game was held on November 27, 2005, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes, to decide the winner of the 2005 season of the Canadian Football League. The Eskimos prevailed over the Alouettes in a 38-35 overtime...
a season later. Mitchell was eventually released by Edmonton on June 23, 2007. On July 2, 2007, Mitchell rejoined the Argonauts by signing a practice agreement with the team. On July 11, 2007, he was put on the active roster in time for a game against the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
the following day and scored a touchdown in his first game back with the Argonauts. On July 26, 2007, Mitchell set a new Argonaut record for career receiving yards after catching a pass from Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
in a home game against the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, surpassing former record holder Paul Masotti
Paul Masotti
Paul Masotti is a former professional Canadian football player and current front office executive with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts...
's 8772 receiving yards. On October 27, 2007, Mitchell surpassed 12,000 career receiving yards in the CFL against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
.
He was released by the Argonauts on March 20, 2008.