With his place secure in Jacksonville history, Cam’Ron Mitchell eyes playoff berth
JACKSONVILLE — Cam’Ron Mitchell is just shy of 3,000 rushing yards for his career on the Jacksonville High School football team. But his main focus right now is getting the Crimsons to the Illinois High School Association playoffs.
To do that, Jacksonville (4-4 overall, 4-3 Central State Eight Conference) has to get a win on the road today at Hancock Stadium against Normal U-High (6-2, 5-2 CS8).
In an upset bid, Mitchell’s speed will be well-served by the artificial turf on the Illinois State University field.
The four-year running back has had his best season in his final campaign. He’s got 1,219 yards and nine touchdowns on 140 carries. What makes that more unusual is that he’s getting those yards with the toughest job: running up the middle. That’s up from his junior season with 111 carries, 844 yards and eight touchdowns.
“He probably had more explosive runs last year because we played him at wing more,” Jacksonville coach Mark Grounds said. “This year, his yards are between the tackles. He’s playing the fullback spot, the primary ball carrier in the flexbone offense and he’s still finding a way to get those explosive runs but he has a ton of 8-, 9-, 10-yard runs that add up.
“At the end of the game, it’s like, ‘Holy cow, this kid’s at or over 200 yards.’ He didn’t play the second against Sacred Heart-Griffin (or) Rochester so he’s at 1,200 yards with what really amounts to seven games played.”
Through four seasons — including a six-game spring 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic — Mitchell has 2,879 yards. He’s second in the program’s history behind 2000 graduate Kenny Rogers, who totaled 3,845 yards rushing.
Great decision
![Jacksonville's Cam'Ron Mitchell (8) throws Springfield's Kaleb Fowler (2) to the ground on a rush in the first half at Kraushaar-Rosenberger Field in Jacksonville, Ill., Friday, October 8, 2021. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/M36yipjocs0L1t7Atg6RWQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYyMQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-state-journal-register/05a2101025c36e184a89f58f82e4ca65)
Mitchell didn’t start playing football until sixth grade. For fun, Mitchell — then primarily a safety — and his teammates began running around during a practice. He must’ve caught someone’s eye.
“Coach came up to me and asked me, do I want to play offense, and that’s how it all started,” Mitchell said. “I’ve just always loved running and I fell in love with football when I was little. I always used to watch it, I always loved the game but as a kid, I just never could get to where I wanted to be to play it.”
He’s had three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season and has nine in his career. It’s unwise for opponents to give him any space.
“He does some magnificent things with the ball in his hands but he’s very humble and will do the blocking and be the decoy when you need to have the decoy,” Grounds said. “He’s got a good football IQ. He’s like every great player: he wants his touches but he’s all about team first.”
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Mitchell said his sophomore season game against Chatham Glenwood — a 35-28 Glenwood win — has permanent residence in his mental highlight reel.
"It was a good Chatham team, homecoming night, four touchdowns, we were so close to bringing it home,” Mitchell said, who also runs track and field and plays basketball.
Big brother Mitchell
Mitchell is the oldest of seven children, including junior teammate Crucifixio Mitchell, who goes by Cross. Grounds, who coached Mitchell’s dad Jerome ‘Tad’ Mitchell in the Crimsons’ first ever playoff victory in 2003, said Mitchell is a great role model.
“He is the quintessential big brother,” Grounds said. “He helps get kids to places, he makes sure they’re doing the small things they need to do to be successful and he’s got a lot of charisma.”
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Mitchell’s biggest smile came when talking about his for his four brothers — including middle school twins — and two sisters.
“I love being the older brother in a big family,” Mitchell said. “It helps me motivate my brothers and them to get ready. They all look up to me, they all want to start playing football after me. I just love seeing them follow in my footsteps.”
Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Jacksonville's Cam’Ron Mitchell runs into Crimsons' record books
