Mitchell signs with Marshall University
By ADAM PRUIETT
Northwest Florida Daily News
315-4421 | adamp@nwfdailynews.com
NAVARRE - When Billy Mitchell moved back to the area from Oregon and rejoined the Navarre football team, it quickly became clear that he was going to be a valuable asset.
He turned out to be so valuable, in fact, that he was perhaps the most invaluable player for the Raiders last season, playing full-time at outside linebacker and splitting time at wide receiver while punting and performing other special teams duties.
"He didn't come off the field," Navarre coach Chad Lashley said of Mitchell, who won the team's Iron Man award after contributing on the most snaps during the year.
Mitchell's versatile ability is one of the things that attracted Marshall University to him. He's signed a letter of intent to play for the Division I Thundering Herd.
Of course, where Mitchell plays for Marshall is unclear at this point. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he gives the team plenty of options. The Thundering Herd coaches view him as potentially a tight end, wide receiver or free safety.
"He's got such a good frame and runs so well," Lashley said. "There's a lot of possibilities."
Mitchell accumulated 63 tackles to along with a team-best four interceptions his senior season. He also had two sacks, eight tackles for a loss, four quarterback hurries and knocked down five passes. Offensively, he made two touchdown catches and averaged 16 yards per reception.
Mitchell visited Marshall a few weeks ago and became enamored with the Huntingdon, W.Va., campus. That came after he had already started to feel comfortable with the program due to his interaction with assistant coach Mike Cummings. Once Mitchell met the Thundering Herd players, he was sold.
"They accepted me right in and loved my ability and what I can do for them," Mitchell said.
Lashley lauded Mitchell's perseverance after Mitchell initially struggled to qualify academically for the Division I level before hunkering down and making sure he became eligible. Mitchell signed late in the recruiting process, but he's certainly not griping about the end result.
"I think everything in the end worked out perfectly," Mitchell said.
