Mitchell on the move

Hogs’ QB granted release by Bielema

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Mitchell (right) greets quarterback AJ Derby at the end of the 2013 Red-White Scrimmage at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Mitchell (right) greets quarterback AJ Derby at the end of the 2013 Red-White Scrimmage at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

FAYETTEVILLE - Brandon Mitchell did not get the upper hand in Arkansas’ quarterback duel with Brandon Allen this spring, and now the senior is heading out.

Coach Bret Bielema announced in a statement Monday that Mitchell, running back Keante Minor, defensive end Austin Flynn and safety Defonta Lowe had all been granted their releases.

“Through meetings with these student-athletes, a determination was made that it would be mutually beneficial for them to pursue their goals elsewhere,” Bielema said in the UA release. “Brandon is on track to earn his degree this summer and utilize the NCAA graduate transfer exception to play immediately this fall.

“We fully support them and wish them all the best moving forward.”

Mitchell wrote a farewell letter on his Facebook page Monday, saying “today is a bittersweet day for my family and I.” He thanked family and fans for their support and indicated the decision to leave was his.

After thanking specific family members, like his parents Bobby and Margaret Mitchell, he wrote that they had “all helped me make this tough decision to leave a great organization, school and family behind and further my academic as well as my football career at another prestigious institution.”

Mitchell’s coach at Amite High School, Alden Foster, said he and Mitchell had already heard from about eight schools who are interested.

“It’s unfortunate because he’s a kid who has paid his dues,” Foster said. “We talked about that today. He wants tofind the best situation for him personally. By being released today, he’ll probably get a few more calls.”

Foster compared Mitchell’s skill set to that of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

“He wanted a chance to showcase that talent and it never materialized,” he said. “I just feel if he had been a local kid, it wouldn’t have been an issue to be honest with you.”

Speculation of Mitchell’s landing spot quickly turned to programs run by former Arkansas coaches: Western Kentucky under Bobby Petrino, Alabama-Birmingham under Garrick McGee and Idaho under Paul Petrino.

Mitchell finished his letter by writing, “Again I want to say thank you to all the Razorback Nation for helping me become the young man I am today. I wish nothing but the best for the University of Arkansas and I appreciate their professionalism throughout this entire process. God Bless!”

Neither Mitchell nor his father Bobby, returned phone messages Monday.

Mitchell’s exit came a couple weeks after the Razorbacks ended spring drills, with Mitchell still trailing Allen, a redshirt sophomore, at quarterback and with Bielema bringing up the possibility of finding another role besides quarterback for Mitchell, who played receiver virtually all of the 2012 season.

In a post-spring interview session April 22, Mitchell said Bielema’s remarks that day were the first time he had heard of another position switch and that he wanted to remain at quarterback.

“With the competition not being over at quarterback, I’m just focused on strictly quarterback,” he said. “I don’t even want to consider anything else right now. My mind’s on quarterback.”

Bielema, speaking the next night at a Razorback Club function in Fort Smith, had seemingly adjusted his position on Mitchell, saying he was due to talk to him the following day (April 24) as the third or fourth player in line for one-on-one post-spring meetings.

“It will be fun to have that conversation, to see where it goes,” Bielema said that night. “Because I don’t want him to stop playing quarterback. I want him to stay right where he’s at.”

Mitchell, who was signed as a two-sport standout from Amite, La., by former Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson, provided athleticism in his 6-4, 235-pound frame. He served two seasons as a backup quarterback in 2010 and 2011 before switching to slot receiver to earn more playing time last season.

Mitchell had a strong fall camp, but caught just 17 passes for 272 yards and no touchdowns in 2012 while playing in eight games. He split time at quarterback with Allen, when starter Tyler Wilson was sidelined against Alabama, and completed 1 of 7 passes for 19 yards. Mitchell also threw an end around pass against Auburn that went for a 26-yard touchdown to Javontee Herndon.

He was forced to miss four games late in the season as Arkansas looked into a matter regarding his eligibility related to his transportation back to campus from south Louisiana after the team’s open date on Oct. 20.

Mitchell also gave basketball a short go in the second half of the 2011-2012 season, averaging 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10 games. He also played for John Pelphrey’s Razorbacks in 2008-2009.

Minor, of East St. Louis, Ill., had moved to tailback in the spring and was well back in the pack at that position. The junior did not catch a pass last season but had nine punt returns for 55 yards.

Flynn, a junior-college transfer last year, missed spring practice after his arrest on charges including driving while intoxicated in February, and Bielema indicated during the spring he would not be returning to the team. He had 10 tackles and three quarterback hurries last season.

Lowe, of Bearden, had one tackle while playing mostly on special teams in four games as a true freshman in 2012. He did not participate in spring to concentrate on academic work and Bielema said at the end of spring he anticipated Lowe would be transferring.

Sports, Pages 17 on 05/07/2013