Former OU standout Lance Mitchell signs with Predators
January 23, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 23) -- LANCE MITCHELL, a former standout linebacker at the University of Oklahoma, has signed a one-year contract with the Orlando Predators. Mitchell, 6-2, 260, was a fifth round (168 overall) draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2005. He would go on to appear in 12 games with the Cards, where he was credited with 14 special teams tackles. He went to camp with Arizona in 2006.
A junior college transfer, Mitchell played three seasons at Oklahoma, where he recorded 219 tackles with six quarterback sacks, 32 tackles-for-loss, five forced fumbles and 11 pass defenses. As a junior, he was named Big Twelve "Defensive Newcomer of the Year" with 124 total tackles and four quarterback sacks. He missed all but two games of his senior season with a knee injury and returned for as a fifth year senior after being granted a medical hardship season. With Mitchell in the starting lineup, the Sooners went 26-3, won a pair of Big Twelve titles and played in 2004 BCS National Championship game.
As a JuCo player, Mitchell was a two-time All-America selection and led City College of San Francisco to a 24-0 record and a pair of national championships. In his college career, Mitchell's teams went 50-3, a .943 winning percentage. "We're extremely pleased to sign a player of Lance Mitchell's quality," Predators head coach Jay Gruden said. "Not only was he a standout linebacker in college, but he was an outstanding running back in high school. He's the type of player who could contribute on both sides of the ball."
As a senior at Los Banos High School in California, Mitchell rushed for 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior.
The signing gives the Predators the AFL pre-season maximum of 37 players under contract, but Gruden said added the Orlando may not be done with their pre-season recruiting. "There's one more guy out there that we would like to sign and if that happens, we will have to make a roster move. But whether we sign that player or not doesn't matter too much. I am excited about our current roster and I am looking forward to an extremely competitive training camp."
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