The transfer portal has made the oft-traveled college football player a part of the modern lexicon.
And then there is the long, winding journey undertaken by linebacker Juwan Mitchell that, eventually, landed him at Colorado.
Mitchell has been a bright spot for a beleaguered Colorado defense in recent weeks, providing a sure tackler amid a group that is struggling to get stops. Now part of this fifth collegiate program since graduating from high school in 2018, the Buffaloes likely will need another big game from Mitchell in order to slow the high-octane attack of USC led by reining Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams when the eighth-ranked Trojans visit Folsom Field on Saturday (10 a.m., Fox).
“It was kind of just the belief. They believed in me, believed in my situation,” Mitchell said about landing at CU. “And I also believed in them and what they had going and what they had building. Just the whole culture. There’s a lot of underdogs, things of that sort. It was just the right place to come in with a chip on our shoulder. Every single person has got something to prove.”
A native of Newark, N.J., Mitchell began his collegiate career at Butler (Kan.) Community College before transferring to Texas ahead of the 2019 season. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Mitchell led the Longhorns in tackles with 62, a mark that ranked 15th in the Big 12 Conference. He even played against the Buffs at the end of that season, recording three tackles in Texas’ Alamo Bowl victory.
Mitchell then transferred to Tennessee and started at middle linebacker in his Volunteers debut, but a shoulder injury that required surgery ended his season. Since he played just three games Mitchell still was able to take a redshirt season, and last season at Tennessee he collected 43 tackles and an interception in 10 games.
With the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA for the 2020 pandemic season still in his pocket, Mitchell transferred to Arizona State but was dismissed from the team in early August. He was a late addition at CU (as a graduate transfer, Mitchell didn’t need a waiver required for undergraduate multiple transfers) and, after not playing in the opener at TCU, Mitchell made his Buffs debut with three tackles against Nebraska, including a tackle for a 12-yard loss.
The past two weeks, Mitchell has been a force, recording 15 tackles in the double-overtime win against Colorado State and 10 more last week at Oregon. Asked this week how he has been able to assimilate himself so quickly with the Buffs’ scheme, Mitchell said the multiple stops have made him a quick study.
“It’s also a blessing for me playing on so many different staffs, things of that sort. I really learned coverages, I really learned how schemes fit,” Mitchell said. “Yeah, there may be different verbiage and things of that sort. But a strong hook is a strong hook. A weak hook is a weak hook. I just need to know where to fit in into schemes.”
CU managed to put together its 3-0 start despite the struggles of the defense, which allowed an average of 460.3 yards in those three wins but balanced that total with 10 takeaways. It was a different story against Oregon, which moved the ball at will and finished with 522 total yards.
The Buffs will face a similar attack this week against USC (4-0). Mitchell believes the CU defense is primed for a rebound.
“Everybody’s waiting for us to respond. We don’t got time for a pity party, things of that sort,” Mitchell said. “So we’re right back to work. Right back where we started. Nobody expected us to be 3-0. People didn’t expect us to win. So we gave people what they wanted this game (against Oregon). It’s time to get back to work and just focus on what’s in the locker room.”
