Lance Mitchell
{{Short description|American football player (born 1981)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Lance Mitchell
| image = Lance Mitchell.jpg
| caption = Mitchell with the Cardinals in 2005
| number = 52
| position = Fullback / Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|10|9}}
| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 247
| high_school = Los Banos {{avoid wrap|(Los Banos, California)}}
| college = Oklahoma
| draftyear = 2005
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 138
| pastteams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2005}}–{{NFL Year|2006}})
- Orlando Predators ({{AFL Year|2007}})
- Arizona Rattlers ({{AFL Year|2008}})*
| highlights =
- 2× California State champion (2000–2001)
- 2× JuCo Gridwire National champion
- JuCo All-American (2001)
- Second-team All-American (CNNSI) (2002)
- Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (2002)
- 2× First-team All-Big 12 (2002, 2004)
- All-Rookie (2007)
| statlabel1 = Tackles
| statvalue1 = 8
| aflstatlabel1 = Tackles
| aflstatvalue1 = 15
| aflstatlabel2 = Sacks
| aflstatvalue2 = 2.0
| afl = 10404
| pfr = MitcLa20
}}
Lance Robert Mitchell (born October 9, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and was selected by the Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft. Mitchell also played for the Orlando Predators and Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League (AFL).
Early life
Mitchell attended Los Banos High School, where he was a three-year starter and an All-State selection at both linebacker and running back. As a senior, he averaged 9.6 yards-per-carry, rushed for more than 3,000 yards, and scored 36 touchdowns. His best game as a running back was 12 attempt, 250 yard performance, including six touchdowns.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandopredators.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=21526&SPID=1739&QUERY_TEAM_ID=3640&DB_OEM_ID=3700&ATCLID=791578 |title=Lance Mitchel |work=OrlandoPredators.com |publisher=Orlando Predators |accessdate=December 1, 2008 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724203416/http://www.orlandopredators.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=21526&SPID=1739&QUERY_TEAM_ID=3640&DB_OEM_ID=3700&ATCLID=791578 |url-status=dead }}
College career
Mitchell originally signed with the University of Florida, but the Southeastern Conference ruled him ineligible because an issue with his high school transcript. While in college, he majored in Sociology.
=S.F. City College=
Mitchell attended San Francisco City College for two years and helped lead his team to a 24–0 record, two California state championships, and two JuCo Gridwire national championships. As a sophomore, he earned All-American honors and recorded five sacks, one interception, and 80 tackles.
=Oklahoma=
In 2002, Mitchell transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he played his final three college seasons.
In his first season at Oklahoma, Mitchell started every game at middle linebacker. He led the team with 124 tackles (87 solos), four sacks, 20 tackles-for-losses, six passes defenses and four forced fumbles. He earned second-team All-American (CNNSI), First-team All-Big 12 Conference, and Big Twelve Newcomer of the Year honors.
In 2003, Mitchell was off to a strong start, recording 17 tackles (13 solos) with two tackles-for-losses in the first two games. However, his season came to an early end after he tore the ACL in his left knee against Fresno State.
As a senior in 2004, Mitchell finished second on the team with 78 tackles (45 solo), two sacks, ten tackles-for-losses, four quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and five passes defensed. For his performance, he earned consensus All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors.
In 29 games at Oklahoma, Mitchell recorded 219 tackles (145 solos) with six sacks, 32 tackles-for-losses, two fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and eleven passes defensed. Despite playing just a little over two seasons at Oklahoma, his 32 tackles-for-losses rank fifth among Sooner linebackers in a career.
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
Mitchell was invited, and attended the 2005 NFL Combine. He was rated the 7th best Inside Linebacker out of 57, and was projected to be selected in the third to fourth rounds of the draft.{{cite web |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=54534&draftyear=2005&genpos=ILB |title=Lance Mitchell, DS No. 7 ILB, Oklahoma |work=NFLDraftScout.com |accessdate=December 1, 2008}}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2+1/8
| weight = 247
| arm span =
| hand span =
| dash = 4.93
| ten split = 1.78
| twenty split = 2.90
| shuttle = 4.38
| cone drill = 7.49
| vertical = 33+1/2
| broad ft =
| broad in =
| bench = 15
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine.{{cite web |title=Lance Mitchell, DS #7 ILB, Oklahoma |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=54534&DraftYear=2005 |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 10, 2021}}
}}
=National Football League (2005–2006)=
Mitchell was selected in the fifth round (168th overall) of the 2005 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} As a rookie, he played in 12 games, recording eight tackles on defense, along with 14 special teams tackles. In 2006, he appeared in two preseason games for the Cardinals, however, he suffered an injury, and on September 5 was placed him on Injured Reserve. Then, just three days later, he and the Cardinals agreed on an injury settlement and he was released by the team.
=Arena Football League (2007–2008)=
On January 25, 2007, Mitchell signed with the Orlando Predators of the AFL.{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=13 |title=Orlando Predators Historical Team Transactions |work=ArenaFan.com |accessdate=December 1, 2008}} For his rookie season, he started all 15 games he played in at linebacker. For the season he finished seventh on the team with 18.5 tackles, second on the team with 3.5 tackles-for-losses, and third on the team with two sacks. His performance for the season earned him AFL All-Rookie honors.{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=7807 |title=2007 All-Rookie Team |work=ArenaFan.com |date=June 27, 2007 |accessdate=December 1, 2008}} However, he was not re-signed by the Predators and became a free agent.{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=7989 |title=2008 free agency begins today |work=ArenaFan.com |date=October 29, 2007 |accessdate=December 1, 2008}}
On November 19, 2007, Mitchell signed with the Arizona Rattlers.{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=21 |title=Arizona Rattlers Historical Team Transactions |work=ArenaFan.com |accessdate=December 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314200853/http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=21 |archivedate=March 14, 2015 }} Then on February 6, 2008, he refused to report to camp with the Rattlers.{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&team=21 |title=Arizona Rattlers Team Transactions |work=ArenaFan.com |accessdate=December 1, 2008}} In turn, on September 10, he was waived by the Rattlers.
Notes
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [http://www.orlandopredators.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=21526&SPID=1739&QUERY_TEAM_ID=3640&DB_OEM_ID=3700&ATCLID=791578 Orlando Predators bio]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- [https://archive.today/20070619104942/http://www.azrattlers.com/team/roster/index.html?player_id=77 Arizona Rattlers bio]
- [https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7344 Arizona Cardinals bio] at Yahoo!
{{Cardinals2005DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Lance}}
Category:People from Los Banos, California
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Orlando Predators players
Category:Arizona Rattlers players
Category:Players of American football from Merced County, California