In the middle of a string of visits, Rivals100 linebacker Teradja Mitchell has cut his extensive offer sheet down to five. The Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan star visited Ohio State last weekend and Alabama a couple weeks before that and has at least two more visits to Clemson and Florida State coming up.
IN HIS OWN WORDS…
"The first time I went down to Ohio State I didn't really get a feel for it because it was a game and there were so many people," Mitchell said. "I didn't really get a chance to talk with many of the coaches. This time around I got to talk to the coaches, get a good feel for the program and saw what it was all about. I liked their approach towards me because they didn't just talk about football. They talked a lot about life after football. It's a great school and great public university not even considering the football part.
"I talked to coach Meyer, coach Davis, and coach Smith," he said. "They were really talking about life after football for most of it. We did talk about football but life after football was the main focus.
"I talked to Wayne Davis in Jayln Holmes while I was up there," said Mitchell. "Both of them are from my area. They really love it there. They are really high on the program. We talked about how life was on campus and they told me that if I come there I'm choosing the hard route. But I'll be great in the end. It's all about buying in and listing to the coaches.
"I visited Alabama a couple of weeks ago," he said. "Their process for the players there is something that really sticks out. They are constantly putting players in the NFL and winning a lot. I want to win at the next level. That really stuck out to me, the process and the grind.
"I'm going to Clemson next weekend on April 21st," Mitchell said. "I heard Clemson is crazy and the environment there is great. I've heard a lot of players saying that when I go there I'm not going to want to leave. I just want to see what all of the hype is about. I know it's a great program and they're coming off a National Championship. I've been down there once before but only for a couple of hours. I want to see what their plan is for me for football and for academics. That's really the main focus.
"I'd like to build a relationship with them," he said. "I never really got a chance to talk to coach Swinney in person so this'll be my first time talking to him in person. Jordan Williams this trying to get me to come there. It’s the same thing with Amari Rogers and Xavier Thomas now that he's committed.
"Florida State is a school that I'm still very high on," said Mitchell. "I've loved it there and I can't wait to get back down there. I'm visiting Florida State on May 12th. This time when I'm down there I just want to see what their plan is for me. It's getting to that time where I say to myself ‘I'll be in college next year.’ I really just wanted to find out about their plan for me. I know how campuses and I know how the players are. I just want to see how I would fit in with their defense and everything."
On what he thinks about people that think he has a favorite: "I'll tell those people to wait and see," Mitchell said. "I need to go to Clemson and Florida State one more time. I'm not sure about my visits after that. Alabama and LSU are still very much in the mix. I'd say Ohio State, Florida State, Clemson, Alabama and LSU are my top five. I want to commit in the next month or two. I'm really not sure I have a leader right now. Everybody's even right now."
RIVALS' REACTION
Mitchell's recruitment has very much been a battle between Florida State and Ohio State. It seems as though the Buckeyes may have pulled ahead of the Seminoles during Mitchell's visit over the weekend but the upcoming visit to Tallahassee looms large on the horizon. Clemson has a chance to really make a strong impression and, by the looks of things, the Tigers have been absolutely killing it with prospects that visit their campus and new facility. Mitchell didn't give an exact date for his commitment but he could pull the trigger some time in late May or June.
