HOG CALLS

Mitchell following Franklin’s example

Arkansas backup quarterback Brandon Mitchell picked up where former teammate Jerry Franklin left off by interning at the Yvonne Richardson Community Center.
Arkansas backup quarterback Brandon Mitchell picked up where former teammate Jerry Franklin left off by interning at the Yvonne Richardson Community Center.

— Tenarius Wright isn’t the only Arkansas Razorback picking up where Jerry Franklin left off.

Brandon Mitchell is, too.

About every Arkansas fan knows that Wright last spring moved from defensive end to middle linebacker, where Franklin, an NFL free agent with the Denver Broncos, spent the last four years annually leading the Razorbacks in tackles.

And about every kid at the Yvonne Richardson Community Center in economically challenged southeast Fayetteville knows that “Mr. Brandon” moved in where “Mr. Jerry” had been.

Franklin worked as a volunteer during the spring of 2011 at the YRCC, which serves kids with athletics, cultural and recreational opportunities. Last summer, Franklin earned UA credits interning at the YRCC.

Fourth-year Arkansas junior backup quarterback Mitchell, a recreation and sports management major and a Razorbacks basketball player, too, serves for UA credits as a YRCC intern this summer.

He serves well, YRCC recreational coordinator Cherrell Lee and assistant coordinator Odie Williams assert.

“He has done a great job with the kids interacting with them,” Lee said. “A lot of them call him Jerry.”

Williams said similarities abound between the two Razorbacks, including both mostly de-emphasizing they are Razorbacks.

“Some of them know he plays football, but they just look at him as Brandon,” Williams said. “Just like Jerry, he doesn’t get too much hung up on himself. Just a regular, humble, down-to-earth guy.”

Mitchell smiles about having to work as hard daily keeping up with kids from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. as he does in the intense morning weight room sessions before his internship and the passing sessions afterward.

“I have little brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews so it’s something I am used to,” Mitchell said. “Working with kids is something I have always wanted to do, whether it’s coaching or whatever. After my career in the NFL, hopefully, it’s something I am looking into doing.”

The NFL for now may seem a stretch. Mitchell has been buried behind two Razorbacks record-setters, Ryan Mallett, about to start his second NFL season, and senior Tyler Wilson, first-team All-SEC last year.

But Arkansas Coach John L. Smith believes Mitchell has the athleticism and character for considerable accomplishments.

“He’s awesome,” Smith said, beaming to hear the YRCC’s thumbs-up on their summer intern. “He’s caring and good-hearted. A good athlete and a good young man.”

Too good to waste just sitting behind a Heisman Trophy candidate.

So in addition to quarterback, Mitchell, a strong, fast, 6-4, 230-pounder with such want-to he was the rare quarterback to play for Smith’s Razorbacks special teams, will play some receiver, too.

“They have got a couple of little packages and it’s fun to do,” Mitchell said. “It’s something I did in high school [in Amite, La.].”

And could do well as a Razorback, Smith believes.

“We think there are some places on the field with him we can get some mismatches,” Smith said. “He is a very talented guy that ought to be playing some. Wherever he is, he can help us.”

A community of kids already vouches he helps wherever he is.

Sports, Pages 23 on 06/30/2012

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