Brandon Mitchell QB Arkansas Immed elig in fall

[Reliable Source]

I think this guy is a diamond in the rough. Love the fact that he competed in 2 sports AND graduated with 2 years of eligibility. He might help Heath solve our PF problem as well. Go get him Willie. Have to agree, much better upside than Bench.

[ckparrothead]

Don't mind me I'm just putting together his throws from the Spring Game this year. For no other reason than that this is what I do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1865s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1978s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2407s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2488s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2644s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2677s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2758s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2799s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2822s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=3574s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=3612s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=3630s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=3686s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=4012s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=4135s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKPP-opwW8&feature=player_detailpage#t=4182s

I don't want to gush here. But I'm going to be honest. I want him to come to USF not just as a Bulls fan but as a college football fan, and a fan of potential NFL prospects. I want this guy to get his shot. He's got too much talent to just let it keep lying fallow. It's unreal. This is a better spring ball tape than what I had on Clint Trickett.

If Jim Harbaugh has rubbed off on Willie Taggart to ANY degree, then CWT is salivating over this guy. The problem is, interest has to be mutual. I hear chatter from the Arkansas fans that he might like to go somewhere close to home, which for him is Amite, Louisiana. It looks like Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe may have quarterbacks already, but Tulane loses Ryan Griffin and Louisiana Tech loses Colby Cameron, so who knows with them.

But either way, IF this guy gets to start in 2013, then as a college football fan we all win because we get to see how deep this rabbit hole goes. Maybe not deep at all. Maybe real deep. Don't know until he gets a shot.

Oh and, Arkansas? Good luck with Brandon Allen.

Edited May 7, 2013 by ckparrothead

[Bulls1181]

Thank you for all the info ckparrothead! I love the dual threat potential. I hope there is interest on his end!

[usfbullrider]

Bottom line he's a stud.

[ckparrothead]

Oops, guess I'm not allowed to edit a post so long after. I was going to take out all those individual links now that I've had a chance to condense the video.

 

[GaUSFBull]

Good stuff ckparrothead.  Appreciate the evaluation and hope CWT will give this guy a call.  

[JTrue]

Anyone seen anything out there that says we're on his short list?

[ckparrothead]

The unfortunate part from the Bulls' standpoint is that we may be last in line on this. Not only is there speculation that he could go to a team closer to his home in Louisiana like La Tech, UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette or Tulane, there's also speculation he could re-join Bobby Petrino at Western Kentucky, Paul Petrino at Idaho, or Garrick McGee at UAB.

Of those teams, La Tech, Tulane and Western Kentucky lost senior starters at QB.

Tulane (2-10), Idaho (1-11) and UAB (3-9) were poor teams in 2012. But so was USF (3-9).

La Tech (9-3), UL-Lafayette (9-4), UL-Monroe (8-5) and Western Kentucky (7-6) were all successful.

I haven't seen a short list for him yet. But I'm guessing the Louisiana schools and the schools that have coaches he has experience with would constitute the short list, along with PERHAPS South Florida just by virtue of us so publicly needing a quarterback. What could be going in our favor is that Mitchell can't give any team more than one year. Some of those teams just won't even want to get into it with a guy that can only give them one year.

I'm mostly spending time on the guy because I think he'll be a guy to talk about in the 2014 NFL Draft. Not necessarily a top tier guy but if B.J. Daniels can go 7th round based on a pure combination of feet and arm talent, then I think this guy could as well.

Edited May 8, 2013 by ckparrothead

[ckparrothead]

From reading an article, it would appear that part of this transfer could be attributable to a bent nose. Mitchell had been competing at quarterback with Brandon Allen the whole time and never had any discussions with the coaches about moving to wide receiver again. Then he's standing right in the room while Bielema is addressing the media following the spring game, and Bielema said to the media that he'll consider moving Mitchell back to wide receiver. That was news to Mitchell, who'd not even considered that yet, didn't realize the quarterback competition was concluded, and hadn't been told anything by coaches.

That's bad form, IMO.

FWIW, Mitchell wrote this on his Facebook page evidently, according to one report I read:

Today is a bitter sweet day for my family and I. I'm grateful for the opportunity that Arkansas has given me over the last four years. We became a family and had great moments as well as tough times. I've learned a lot about myself and realize that sometimes things and circumstances change. At this time I'd like to say thank you dearly to all of my fans & The Razorback Nation for all of your support, professionalism, and prayers. I leave behind some of the BEST MEN I have ever known in my Razorback teammates. I could have never asked to play with a better group of guys! I will truly miss the relationships and brotherhood I have personally and collectively as a team with each and everyone of you! I'm beginning a new journey and looking forward to seeing where it leads me. God is and has always been in control of my life. All things work together for the good of them who love The Lord. I also would like to thank my entire family for always supporting me in every aspect of my life! Without you all none of this would have ever been possible! My parents Bobby & Margaret Mitchell, my brother & sister Kedrien and Keshia along with my grandparents, have all help me make this tough decision to leave a great organization, school, and family behind and further my academic as well as my football career at another prestigious institution. Again I want to say thank you to all the Razorback Nation for helping me become the young man I am today. I wish nothing but the best for the University of Arkansas and I appreciate their professionalism throughout this entire process. God Bless!

Sincerely,

Brandon D. Mitchell

Seems like a pretty classy guy. I do wonder what "team rules" he violated in 2012 that saw him get suspended for four games.

[charsibb]

From reading an article, it would appear that part of this transfer could be attributable to a bent nose. Mitchell had been competing at quarterback with Brandon Allen the whole time and never had any discussions with the coaches about moving to wide receiver again. Then he's standing right in the room while Bielema is addressing the media following the spring game, and Bielema said to the media that he'll consider moving Mitchell back to wide receiver. That was news to Mitchell, who'd not even considered that yet, didn't realize the quarterback competition was concluded, and hadn't been told anything by coaches.

That's bad form, IMO.

FWIW, Mitchell wrote this on his Facebook page evidently, according to one report I read:

 

Today is a bitter sweet day for my family and I. I'm grateful for the opportunity that Arkansas has given me over the last four years. We became a family and had great moments as well as tough times. I've learned a lot about myself and realize that sometimes things and circumstances change. At this time I'd like to say thank you dearly to all of my fans & The Razorback Nation for all of your support, professionalism, and prayers. I leave behind some of the BEST MEN I have ever known in my Razorback teammates. I could have never asked to play with a better group of guys! I will truly miss the relationships and brotherhood I have personally and collectively as a team with each and everyone of you! I'm beginning a new journey and looking forward to seeing where it leads me. God is and has always been in control of my life. All things work together for the good of them who love The Lord. I also would like to thank my entire family for always supporting me in every aspect of my life! Without you all none of this would have ever been possible! My parents Bobby & Margaret Mitchell, my brother & sister Kedrien and Keshia along with my grandparents, have all help me make this tough decision to leave a great organization, school, and family behind and further my academic as well as my football career at another prestigious institution. Again I want to say thank you to all the Razorback Nation for helping me become the young man I am today. I wish nothing but the best for the University of Arkansas and I appreciate their professionalism throughout this entire process. God Bless!

Sincerely,

Brandon D. Mitchell

Seems like a pretty classy guy. I do wonder what "team rules" he violated in 2012 that saw him get suspended for four games.

 

 

Classy indeed. Hardly sounds like a college kid - very mature.