Terrance Mitchell

Terrance Mitchell II (born May 17, 1992) is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon.

Early years

Mitchell attended Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California, where he played cornerback and running back for the Burbank Titans high school football team. As a senior he earned Metro League Offensive MVP honors after registering 2,360 all-purpose yards, 48 receptions and 24 touchdowns. On defense, he received All-Metro honors after he tallied 6 interceptions, a forced fumble and one blocked field goal.

He also lettered in basketball. Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was listed as the No. 33 cornerback in the nation in 2010.^[1]

College career

Mitchell accepted a scholarship to play football for the University of Oregon. He earned the starting left cornerback job as a redshirt freshman, registering 45 tackles, 10 passes defensed (sixth in the PAC-12), 2 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles. The next year he tallied 40 tackles (ninth on the team) and 8 passes defensed. As a Junior, he finished with 59 tackles (ninth on the team), 7 passes defensed, 5 interceptions (led the team) and one forced fumble.

He announced on January 2, 2014, that he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.^[2][3] He finished his collegiate career with 38 starts in 40 games, 144 tackles, 7 interceptions, 25 passes defensed (tied for 10th place in school history) and 4 forced fumbles.

Professional career

2014 NFL Draft

At the NFL scouting combine Mitchell was clocked at 4.63 for the 40 yard dash, but recorded the best three-cone drill (6.57 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (tie, 4.00 seconds) among those at the cornerback position.^[4] At the University of Oregon pro day he was able to improve on his 40-yard dash time, clocking in at 4.52. Many draft predictions had Mitchell going somewhere between rounds 3 to 5, but he fell all the way to the end of the draft and was the 3rd to last player drafted.

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

Mitchell was selected in the seventh round (254th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, after he dropped because he was considered slow for a cornerback.^[5] As a rookie, he was ineligible to participate in organized team activities until the University of Oregon classes ended.

Even with the time missed in the offseason, the coaches took notice of his competitiveness and playmaking abilities during practices. Although he had a good chance to make the team after Orlando Scandrick was suspended and the fourth cornerback B.W. Webb was waived, his lack of production in preseason games led to his release on August 30, 2014. The Cowboys offered him a chance to join their practice squad, but he decided to sign with a different team.

Chicago Bears

On September 1, 2014, Mitchell was signed by the Chicago Bears to their practice squad.^[6][7] He was promoted to the active roster on October 13 and was declared inactive in 9 games.

In 2015, a notable preseason allowed him to make the roster by beating out Tim Jennings. He was sidelined after Week 5 with a hamstring injury. On November 17, he was released to make room for cornerback Jacoby Glenn.^[8] On November 19, he was signed to the Bears' practice squad. He was released on November 23.

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On December 2, 2015, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to the practice squad.^[9] With cornerback Orlando Scandrick out with a season ending knee injury and Tyler Patmon struggling, Mitchell was promoted to the active roster on December 18 and was named the team's nickel cornerback.^[10] In his first game against the New York Jets he registered a pass defensed and an interception, becoming one of two cornerbacks on the team to have an interception on the year. Against the Washington Redskins he sacked quarterback Colt McCoy, forcing a fumble. In three games he registered 12 tackles, one sack, one interception and 2 passes defensed.

In 2016, he was used at nickel back and safety during Organized Team Activities. He was released on June 10.^[11]

Houston Texans

On June 13, 2016, Mitchell was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans, to replace rookie cornerback Richard Leonard who suffered a torn hamstring.^[12] He was released on September 3.^[13]

Kansas City Chiefs

On September 6, 2016, Mitchell was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad.^[14] He was promoted to the active roster on October 18, 2016.^[15] He was released on November 8, 2016 and signed to the practice squad the next day.^[16] He was promoted back to the active roster on November 25, 2016.^[17]

References

External links

• Oregon Ducks bio