INDIANAPOLIS — Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, it’s become apparent that former Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is not only a couple of months away from being a first-round pick, the two-time All-American is surging up NFL draft boards.
Last month, he was the talk of Mobile, Ala., when the league descended on the Gulf Coast town for the Senior Bowl. Mitchell showed out in front of head coaches, general managers, and their cadre of decision-makers, lighting up social media like Clark Griswold’s house.
“Quinyon Mitchell is just so physical,” ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller said. “If you had to pick a winner at the Senior Bowl, I think it was him. When you watched his tape at Toledo, you were like, OK, this guy is dominating this level of play. How’s he going to look when he goes against Power Five guys for a week? And he dominated everybody there. What he can do in press coverage at the line is great, but then he has the speed to turn and run with these guys.”
Mitchell will get another close-up this week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, a gathering of front offices and nearly every draftable player. The event is famous for its asinine questions, meticulous medical exams, and career-altering measurements and 40 times.
With Mitchell, all one needs is a cell phone, computer, or television to cue up the highlights.
Here is a breakdown of what makes Mitchell such an enticing NFL prospect.
Oct., 8, 2022: Toledo at Northern Illinois. First quarter, second-and-12 from the NIU 23-yard line. Mitchell intercepts Ethan Hampton and returns it 25 yards for a touchdown, his first of two pick-sixes on the day and four interceptions, marking Mitchell’s national coming-out party.
Toledo cornerbacks coach Corey Parker: “That is just a catch drill that we use. You’ll see us working on this in pre-practice -- break across the face. It’s actually creating an intersection point between you and the receiver, so if the quarterback dares to throw it, are you fast enough to t-step and drive and get there as the ball is coming? We want the quarterback to believe we’re in soft off-man coverage. If you watch his feet subtly, he has his foot back because most people believe if the quarterback looks over pre-snap and they see that football, they believe he’s going to back peddle and give him space. And he actually does the opposite. He charges his foot up and as the ball is thrown, he drives on him.”
Joe Broback of Pro Football Network: “He has his eyes on the quarterback so he knows exactly when the ball is coming. As soon as the quarterback begins his release, Mitchell’s breaking on the ball. You can tell he’s a DB and not a receiver, as he has to jump to catch a ball that’s thrown at his chest. But he does pick it off. Elite speed helps him make it to the endzone untouched, even with the quarterback taking a good angle on him.”
Oct. 31, 2023: Toledo vs. Ohio in the Mid-American Conference championship game. Fourth-and-10 from the Ohio 30-yard line. Mitchell knocks down CJ Harris’ pass to all but clinch a MAC title for the Rockets.
Parker: He used our catch technique, then broke across his face. It was almost an interception. We studied the alignment of that specific wide receiver all week and keyed on where he aligns when running curls. Q identified that play as equal to what we studied and decided to play catch-man and not give any ground because it made sense to match with the same alignment as he would run the hitch route. So he chose a technique to get him to break up the pass quickly on a short route because it was fourth down.
Broback: Great reaction. First thing he notices is that the receiver stands up tall before going into his break. That body language tells Mitchell that he’s about to make a cut, which he jumps on right away. He knows that he has help inside, so he can bet on the outside right thanks to that receiver’s presnap alignment. The quarterback makes it easier on him by throwing it too far inside and Mitchell nearly picks it off because he’s gotten in front of the receiver.
Dec. 2, 2023: Toledo vs. Miami in the MAC championship game. Third-and-4 from the Miami 43-yard line. Miami QB Aveon Smith throws deep to wide receiver Gage Larvadain, who appears to have Mitchell beat. But he knocks the ball away with a ferocious chop and avoids a pass interference penalty.
Parker: “Double kick head whip speed turn. It’s the timing. That’s where we want him. He said, ‘Coach, y’all said to make a play and I was trying to jump through him and catch it.’ I said, ‘Bro, what?!’ So he actually believes, and it’s not my job to take the superhero out of him and tell him he can’t make that play. I want him to believe the impossible. That’s part of being confident and living on that island by yourself.
“We want you on the upfield shoulder of the post because the way we play sometimes, the safety may go someplace else. So when you’re telling him to be on the upfield shoulder, if the quarterback overthrows it or underthrows it, you’re in great position. If you come in and play on the low shoulder underneath and the quarterback overthrows it, you are doomed. It’s a touchdown.”
Broback: “He stays calm throughout the route. There’s never a point where he gets anxious about where his man is going. He lets the receiver take him to the ball. At some point, he gets crossed in the route, but he’s so fast that there’s no separation. The pass is underthrown, which helps his case. But he’s still in good position to make a play thanks to his speed. Mitchell plays physical through the ball and not the man, which creates the pass breakup. His ability to locate the ball early helps him time his jump, and a strong punch knocks the ball out of the receiver’s hands.”
First Published February 28, 2024, 9:32 p.m.
