Mike Mitchell (safety)
Encyclopedia
Michael Mitchell is an American football
safety for the Oakland Raiders
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Ohio University
.
in Fort Thomas, Ky., where he lettered one, and earned Kentucky All-Star honors, in addition to being selected honorable mention All-State as a senior. That year, he led the team to the state title, recording 87 tackles with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown.
. He had 55 tackles (27 solos), including a sack and five stops for losses a caused fumble, deflected two passes and intercepted two others for 30 yards in returns. As a true freshman in 2005
Mitchell appeared in nine games, recording 21 tackles (16 solos) with 1.5 stops for losses, caused a fumble and deflected two passes
, but performed well at Ohio's Pro Day. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and he did 22 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press to go along with a 37½-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
(**represents Ohio Pro Day)—X = did not participate
analyst Mel Kiper said Mitchell's grade was somewhere between the 40th and 70th safety available in the draft, and the NFL Network
's Mike Mayock
had given Mitchell a seventh round grade. But after posting a 4.43 time in the 40-yard dash at Ohio University's pro day, he was selected by the Oakland Raiders
with the 47th overall selection. Later on draft day, it was reported that Mitchell was being targeted by the Bears (selecting at 49—two spots behind the Raiders). However, after Mitchell was taken by the Raiders, the Bears ultimately traded their selection. Upon report of this, Mike Mayock of the NFL Network apologized to the Raiders for his low grade. Mel Kiper later gave it "Most Likely To Make The Raiders Look Good Award," stating "Oakland took Michael Mitchell, OK?" "I asked teams after the draft. The misnomer is it's all Mel Kiper's opinion, it's all Todd McShay. You have to ask other teams. We're not the end-all, be-all. Some said they had him as a free agent. One team told me they had Michael Mitchell in the third round. They had him as a Pro Bowler. They think it's a great pick by the Oakland Raiders. So Oakland wasn't the only team out on the island that saw something in that kid."
Mitchell is the highest Ohio player to be drafted since Gene Ruskowski's fifth-round selection (44th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in 1948
. The last time an Ohio student-athlete was drafted in a higher round was the Bobcats' only first round selection, Art Lewis
(ninth overall) in 1936
by the New York Giants
.
Mitchell was officially signed by the Oakland Raiders on July 27, 2009
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of 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...
. He was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He played 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...
at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
.
Early years
Mitchell attended Covington Catholic High School for his first three years. He lettered as a sophomore and junior before transferring to Highlands High SchoolHighlands High School (Kentucky)
Fort Thomas Highlands High School, also known as Fort Thomas Highlands, is a public secondary school located in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Operated by Fort Thomas Independent Schools, Highlands was founded in 1888. The school took its name from the original name of Fort Thomas, "The Highlands"...
in Fort Thomas, Ky., where he lettered one, and earned Kentucky All-Star honors, in addition to being selected honorable mention All-State as a senior. That year, he led the team to the state title, recording 87 tackles with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown.
College career
Mitchell started 30 of 45 games at Ohio University—23 at strong safety and seven at free safety and recorded 212 tackles (126 solos) with three sacks, 15 stops for losses and one quarterback pressure and he recovered one fumble and caused four others. He deflected 13 passes and intercepted seven others. In 2008 he started 11 games at strong safety and had 62 tackles (36 solos) that included an assisted sack and 4.5 stops for losses and caused two fumbles and deflected five passes and led the team with three interceptions for 61 yards. As a junior, in 2007, Mitchell started 11 games at strong safety, despite having several injuries. He finished with 74 tackles (47 solos) that included 1.5 sacks, four stops for losses and a quarterback pressure. He also recovered a fumble and deflected four passes. He led the team with a pair of interceptions for 49 yards in returns. In 2006 he played in all fourteen games, starting the last eight contests that included seven at free safety before shifting to strong safety for the GMAC BowlGMAC Bowl
The GoDaddy.com Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game that has been played annually at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama since 1999. It currently matches teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference, and...
. He had 55 tackles (27 solos), including a sack and five stops for losses a caused fumble, deflected two passes and intercepted two others for 30 yards in returns. As a true freshman in 2005
Mitchell appeared in nine games, recording 21 tackles (16 solos) with 1.5 stops for losses, caused a fumble and deflected two passes
Pre-draft
Mitchell wasn't invited to the NFL CombineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
, but performed well at Ohio's Pro Day. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and he did 22 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press to go along with a 37½-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||||||
| Ht | Wt | 40-yard dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6′1″ ** | 216 lb ** | 4.39 ** | 1.50 ** | 2.55 ** | 4.19 ** | 6.85 ** | 37½″ ** | 10′3″ ** | 22 ** | X |
Oakland Raiders
Mitchell's selection raised eyebrows on draft day, as most television commentators had never heard of him and could not find him in draft guides. Mitchell was generally expected to be a second-day pick or an undrafted free agent. ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
analyst Mel Kiper said Mitchell's grade was somewhere between the 40th and 70th safety available in the draft, and the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
's Mike Mayock
Mike Mayock
Michael Francis Mayock is a former professional football player, a safety with the New York Giants of the National Football League...
had given Mitchell a seventh round grade. But after posting a 4.43 time in the 40-yard dash at Ohio University's pro day, he was selected by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
with the 47th overall selection. Later on draft day, it was reported that Mitchell was being targeted by the Bears (selecting at 49—two spots behind the Raiders). However, after Mitchell was taken by the Raiders, the Bears ultimately traded their selection. Upon report of this, Mike Mayock of the NFL Network apologized to the Raiders for his low grade. Mel Kiper later gave it "Most Likely To Make The Raiders Look Good Award," stating "Oakland took Michael Mitchell, OK?" "I asked teams after the draft. The misnomer is it's all Mel Kiper's opinion, it's all Todd McShay. You have to ask other teams. We're not the end-all, be-all. Some said they had him as a free agent. One team told me they had Michael Mitchell in the third round. They had him as a Pro Bowler. They think it's a great pick by the Oakland Raiders. So Oakland wasn't the only team out on the island that saw something in that kid."
Mitchell is the highest Ohio player to be drafted since Gene Ruskowski's fifth-round selection (44th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in 1948
1948 NFL Draft
The 1948 National Football League Draft was held on December 19, 1947 at the Fort Pitt Hotel in Pittsburgh.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:...
. The last time an Ohio student-athlete was drafted in a higher round was the Bobcats' only first round selection, Art Lewis
Art Lewis
Arthur Everett "Pappy" Lewis was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a lineman at Ohio University from 1932 to 1935 and then in the National Football League with the New York Giants in 1936 and the Cleveland Rams from 1938 to 1939...
(ninth overall) in 1936
1936 NFL Draft
The 1936 National Football League Draft was the first draft of the National Football League. It took place on February 8, 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has taken place every year since. The draft was instituted in an effort to equalize strength amongst the...
by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Mitchell was officially signed by the Oakland Raiders on July 27, 2009