4-star Utah RB commit set to stop by Florida’s Friday Night Lights
Four-star running back Michael Mitchell plays high school ball in Middleburg, Florida, but he’s committed to the University of Utah.
That’s a long way from home, but he’s picking up interest from the Florida Gators as the summer rolls on. Mitchell will be at Florida’s Friday Night Lights camp this weekend, according to Gators Online, and he could end up staying for the recruiting cookout on Saturday.
Mitchell was last in Gainesville for the team’s spring game, and he has visited the school a handful of times. However, he hasn’t picked up an offer from the Gators. That’s not because UF isn’t interested, though. Mitchell says his grades aren’t where they need to be for the program to offer him, a problem that has popped up in the past. After working to correct the issue, he’s hopeful he’ll leave town with an offer from Billy Napier.
“What’s really been (blocking) me getting the offer is me stepping up,” Mitchell said. “I wasn’t really planning on getting this big in football, so my grades had slumped down. They saw the type of player I can be and have been helping me out, so my grades have been going up.
“I actually finished everything I needed to do and believe them inviting me to this will be the final step.”
Keeping the best recruits in the state at home is something Napier has strived for since taking over as the head coach of the Gators in December. It appears his staff is willing to help out young men they think are worth the gamble. Running backs coach Jabbar Juluke has developed a relationship with Mitchell and has continued to check in on him regardless of where he ends up playing.
Juluke is the one who helped get Mitchell on the academic plan he’s using. If he does get the offer from Florida, Mitchell is unsure what comes next.
“If they pull the trigger, it could be a big change,” said Mitchell, “but I also feel like Utah would already be my home. It would all happen in the process of how I would feel.”
Mitchell is ranked No. 157 overall by On3’s individual measure and is No. 466 on the On3 consensus, which equally weights all four major services. Among running backs, Mitchell is ranked No. 7 and No. 32 on the two lists.
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