Eleven Warriors reported recently that the Ohio State Buckeyes have landed Mike Mitchell.
Mitchell, a 5 star OLB according to Scout, may be the most athletic player in the entire class and could start right away for the Buckeyes. At a combine in Oregon last summer, Mitchell ran a 4.39 40 yard dash, and impressed overall. He had offers from Ohio State, Florida, and Oklahoma among others.
“Coach Urban has a real good program going,” Mitchell said. “It’s Ohio State. It’s a big program. They’re going to do big things.”
Mitchell has my favorite nickname of the 2013 class, which is Mike “The Abusement Park” Mitchell; let’s see if next year Mitchell can thrill us the way an amusement park can.
The linebacker will be essential to the Buckeyes pass rus,h as well as their ability to stop the run. Mitchell has incredible closing speed on the ball, which allows him to remain in the game during passing downs. Simply put, there aren’t many tight ends or slot receivers who could keep up with Mitchell in a footrace.
Mitchell may not be in college the full four years – that is how good he is. That said, the Buckeyes faithful will enjoy having him while he is there, and mostly they are probably just glad that his 4.4 speed is on their team. He is the type of played who could have given the Buckeyes’ Urban Meyer his first loss last season. Let’s see how long the Buckeyes can keep this winning streak going now that they have another difference maker on defense.