(Writer’s note: we’re a couple of days late on this but still felt like it should be addressed.)
Because of an ailing father, it was thought that Mike Mitchell would be granted a hardship waiver and receive immediate eligibility with Texas Tech this coming season. As it turns out, and unfortunately for both the team and the player, the exact opposite is true.
Jeremy Fowler of CBSSports.com tweeted recently that Mitchell is “indeed sitting out a year,” meaning the linebacker’s appeal for a waiver was, for whatever reason, denied by the NCAA. In February it was reported that Mitchell would be transferring from Ohio State, with news surfacing in late May that he was landing with the Red Raiders.
At least on paper, Mitchell had the talent to make an immediate impact in Lubbock.
A five-star member of the Buckeyes’ 2013 recruiting class, Mitchell was the No. 1 player in the talent-rich state of Texas and the No. 3 outside linebacker in the country. He took a redshirt as a true freshman last season.
Along with Ohio State, Texas A&M and Oregon were Mitchell’s finalists before he verbally committed to OSU in early January of last year.