USF Athletics

A linebacker who was one of the first standout stars in program history, Mitchell helped set the foundation for hard-nosed USF defenses. He set the program career tackles mark that stood for 15 years and helped the Bulls successfully leap from FCS to FBS football before becoming an NFL Super Bowl Champion.
 
Selected First-team All-FBS Independent in 2002, Mitchell starred for Bulls teams that were not members of a conference and thus did not receive conference accolades or significant bowl consideration. He finished his career with 367 tackles, which stood as the program record for 15 seasons and now is second all-time. Mitchell posted a then-record 117 tackles as a senior in 2002 (now tied for third in a season) and 106 in 2001 (eighth). His 19 tackles for loss in 2002 are tied for second-most all-time in a season, including posting five at No. 2-ranked Oklahoma (where he had 13 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble). His 37 career tackles for loss rank eighth all-time.
 
Twice a candidate for the Butkus Award (presented to the nation’s top linebacker), Mitchell’s teams went 31-13 over his career. He was the defensive leader for a 2002 team that went 9-2 in the Bulls’ third FBS season, posting a win over No. 25 Bowling Green and suffering their only losses at No. 2 Oklahoma (the eventual Rose Bowl champion) and at Arkansas (which went on to play in the SEC Championship).
 
Mitchell was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 47^th overall pick (second round) in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons and 97 games (86 starts) in the NFL, posting 487 tackles, 12.0 sacks, and six interceptions. He was a strong member of the New York Giants' Super Bowl XLII-winning team, posting a sack in the game. 
 
Mitchell was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2025.