LB Mike Mitchell (transfer to Texas Tech, transfer to Southeastern FL)

[pnuts34]

You have to marvel at an athlete who is one of the best in a speed event and a field event -and we aren't talking about a minor state here - this is the vast and talented state of Texas.

This guy is exceptional in terms of all of his meaurables. That doesn't mean that he can play football as a freshman at Ohio State, but if Curtis Grant falters, it wouldn't surprise me to see him right there in the middle of the Silver Bullets during the season.

I suggested this on another thread and drew some scoffs and "huhs". It depends on how quickly he can adjust to big time CFB, whether he can be instinctive, and whether he can make plays. But if he can be/is those things, and Grant can't/isn't, he will be given an opportunity.

What Mitchell is doing in HS is definitely amazing, but let's get some perspective here, he's doing is against HIGH SCHOOLERS! He has some great numbers in HS and that doesn't necessarily mean it translates to the college stage. Very very few kids come in, in year 1 and start at big time colleges. Not saying that mike COULDN'T do it, but it's highly unlikely. Just using god given ability alone doesn't get you through college football in a major program. He's learning a new play book, playing with and against higher caliber players as well. At osu and throughout CFB, every kid playing was the best at their Hs, or county, or city or even state. Curtis grant was by no means no slouch, and he was supposed to come in and start and set the world on fire also. He was also an incredible athlete in HS.
I hope, like everyone else that mike gets a chance to ball. But in reality hell have to earn his way on special teams. Just because he has some nice numbers doesn't mean he's ready for college ball just yet. Every year fans fall in love with the shiny new toy which is the newest 5 star recruit their team got and they throw away the veteran players that have been successful for their teams in the past(or in grants case, a player that was once coveted and now some fans are growing impatient). Give Mitchell time to develop into a star before proclaiming him the starter, because after year 1 or 2 some may view him like grant or Sabino and be looking for the new 5 star kid to start over him instead.

 

[jwinslow]

What Mitchell is doing in HS is definitely amazing, but let's get some perspective here, he's doing is against HIGH SCHOOLERS! He has some great numbers in HS and that doesn't necessarily mean it translates to the college stage.

Yeah, there are tons of 235 lb linebackers running sub 11 second 100s in college if only he could fall back up on being measured officially as the most prolific athlete in sparq testing.

He flat out said it doesn't mean he can play football as a freshman yet you spent an entire page downplaying his outrageous track exploits?

 

[pnuts34]

Yeah, there are tons of 235 lb linebackers running sub 11 second 100s in college if only he could fall back up on being measured officially as the most prolific athlete in sparq testing.

He flat out said it doesn't mean he can play football as a freshman yet you spent an entire page downplaying his outrageous track exploits?

I didn't downplay his HS track numbers at all, it is what it is. But he did say that if grant falters that he should be in the midst of the silver bullets and that I disagreed with. His numbers in HS, no matter how good don't mean he'll put up similar numbers in college. Let's not get carried away. He had a nice rating in a camp, ok, and that means what? I hope he does great in s & g but I believe he'll make his most damage on special teams as a frosh. Track is track, and he had great numbers

 

[Mike80]

I didn't downplay his HS track numbers at all, it is what it is. But he did say that if grant falters that he should be in the midst of the silver bullets and that I disagreed with. His numbers in HS, no matter how good don't mean he'll put up similar numbers in college. Let's not get carried away. He had a nice rating in a camp, ok, and that means what? I hope he does great in s & g but I believe he'll make his most damage on special teams as a frosh. Track is track, and he had great numbers

He would be in the midst of the LB competition if Grant has issues. Ohio State's LB depth virtually demands it. That was probably more of a statement of fact rather than a statement of homerism or over the top hype.

 

[pnuts34]

He would be in the midst of the LB competition if Grant has issues. Ohio State's LB depth virtually demands it. That was probably more of a statement of fact rather than a statement of homerism or over the top hype.

Gotcha. My bad then. Our depth is certainly an issue and I wish the best for Mitchell and hope he becomes one of the greats. And he should be competing for a spot, and I hope that the coaches can bring him along despite not coming in early

 

[jwinslow]

Two years ago we had a 205 lb true frosh who had been playing LB for six months manning the middle vs Michigan. A year later a three year starter on offense switched to there. Grant has had a fine spring but that is hardly a safe position at this point.

This is why Kwon is such a crucial recruit this season. They need mikes in the worst way.

 

[OSUK]

What Mitchell is doing in HS is definitely amazing, but let's get some perspective here, he's doing is against HIGH SCHOOLERS! He has some great numbers in HS and that doesn't necessarily mean it translates to the college stage. Very very few kids come in, in year 1 and start at big time colleges. Not saying that mike COULDN'T do it, but it's highly unlikely. Just using god given ability alone doesn't get you through college football in a major program. He's learning a new play book, playing with and against higher caliber players as well. At osu and throughout CFB, every kid playing was the best at their Hs, or county, or city or even state. Curtis grant was by no means no slouch, and he was supposed to come in and start and set the world on fire also. He was also an incredible athlete in HS.
I hope, like everyone else that mike gets a chance to ball. But in reality hell have to earn his way on special teams. Just because he has some nice numbers doesn't mean he's ready for college ball just yet. Every year fans fall in love with the shiny new toy which is the newest 5 star recruit their team got and they throw away the veteran players that have been successful for their teams in the past(or in grants case, a player that was once coveted and now some fans are growing impatient). Give Mitchell time to develop into a star before proclaiming him the starter, because after year 1 or 2 some may view him like grant or Sabino and be looking for the new 5 star kid to start over him instead.

^ This is what I love about sports forums and fans. Some people don't read, they don't put stuff into context, they add stuff that isn't there, they ascribe conclusions to you that you never stated, and then they tell you why you need "perspective".

My perspective is simply this: we have a freak athlete here. IF he can adjust to big time CFB and IF he can be instinctive, and IF he can make plays whether he knows how to line up or not - then we might have us a guy who can be what we all hope Curtis Grant will be. That's what I said.

Maybe I'm crazy but I learned somewhere that words have certain meanings and when you put them together they create a context. :)

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I didn't downplay his HS track numbers at all, it is what it is. But he did say that if grant falters that he should be in the midst of the silver bullets and that I disagreed with. His numbers in HS, no matter how good don't mean he'll put up similar numbers in college. Let's not get carried away. He had a nice rating in a camp, ok, and that means what? I hope he does great in s & g but I believe he'll make his most damage on special teams as a frosh. Track is track, and he had great numbers

Andy Katzenmoyer was dumb as a box of rocks but ended up starting MLB as a true freshman due to his size and athleticism. Mitchell is a bit smaller but more athletic, and is pretty smart to boot. It is far from outlandish to think that someone of Mitchell's freakish athletic ability could challange for playing time at a position that is far from locked down, despite being a true freshman.

 

[ant80]

Andy Katzenmoyer was dumb as a box of rocks but ended up starting MLB as a true freshman due to his size and athleticism. Mitchell is a bit smaller but more athletic, and is pretty smart to boot. It is far from outlandish to think that someone of Mitchell's freakish athletic ability could challange for playing time at a position that is far from locked down, despite being a true freshman.

Kat was an oddity. Will Mitchell be one as well? Possible, but not plausible. Everyone thought Grant would contribute well on the field immediately, but it was not so. Never thought Shazier would be as good as he is, looking at his HS film. And Little Animal, oh my god! Point is, you never know when a blue chipper is going to lay an egg, and when a low 3* is going to blow up.

If I remember right, Noah Spence said it last year, that at one point, he realized that he was no longer in high school, looking at the way the lines went against each other. That light has to go on. It didn't, for Grant. Will it go on for Mitchell early? Again, possible, but not plausible. Will it go on at all? Likely, but not a certainty. All you can do is recruit the best kids, and pray to good 'ol Jesus Christ that he will pan out.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Kat was an oddity. Will Mitchell be one as well? Possible, but not plausible. Everyone thought Grant would contribute well on the field immediately, but it was not so. Never thought Shazier would be as good as he is, looking at his HS film. And Little Animal, oh my god! Point is, you never know when a blue chipper is going to lay an egg, and when a low 3* is going to blow up.

If I remember right, Noah Spence said it last year, that at one point, he realized that he was no longer in high school, looking at the way the lines went against each other. That light has to go on. It didn't, for Grant. Will it go on for Mitchell early? Again, possible, but not plausible. Will it go on at all? Likely, but not a certainty. All you can do is recruit the best kids, and pray to good 'ol Jesus Christ that he will pan out.

There's a difference between thinking a true frosh will have a tough time getting significant playing time--let alone starting--and flat out out dismissing the idea as pnuts34 did.

I'll stand by what I said earlier...in addition to being a special teams demon he'll get some playing time at LB.

 

[jwinslow]

Andy Katzenmoyer was dumb as a box of rocks but ended up starting MLB as a true freshman due to his size and athleticism.

Andy Katzenmoyer is one of the greatest recruits to ever sign with OSU and easily an all-time legend at LB in Ohio HS history.

Shazier had never played LB in his life before OSU, didn't know the position and had the weight of a safety and the knee of a rehab patient yet he continued to line up in the middle less than a year into playing the position.

Zach Boren was an alleged throw-in recruit with zero fanfare out of HS other than his brother. He spent most of his career as a blocker and switched weeks before The Game. His toughness, instincts and fundamentals allowed him to greatly enhance the defense but his limitations were obvious.

Now we enter year three and the MLB (& LB overall) depth is still frightening. He could very well find himself starting at MLB as the third consecutive playmaker with a lot of limitations that should have kept him from starting (youth, experience, knowledge of the defense), yet we may see him there just like the last two before him.


Obviously all recruits should be treated patiently and not be idolized as conquerors before enrolling. The problem is, OSU doesn't even have a sure placeholder at the Mike position, let alone a strong player that can confidently keep a rookie on the sidelines. Grant has as much uncertainty around him heading into the fall as Mitchell does. I hope his big spring pays off, but like Mike's HS exploits, practice doesn't hold a candle to actual games.

 

[Yertle]

All you can do is recruit the best kids, and pray to good 'ol Jesus Christ that he will pan out.

I disagree. JC is a Tebow fan, not a Buckeye linebacker fan.

 

[BayBuck]

I disagree. JC is a Tebow fan, not a Buckeye linebacker fan.

Oh, I bet he was a fan of this guy too:

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

I need to manage my expectations... because a middle tandem of what Mitchell and Kwon could be... defies imagination

and BTW don't tell me Spielman was not one of JC's favs

 

[Ted Haggard]

All you can do is recruit the best kids, and pray to good 'ol Jesus Christ that he will pan out.

I disagree. JC is a Tebow fan, not a Buckeye linebacker fan.

I can confirm this.