DT Earl Mitchell, Round 3, #81 Overall
 

converted TE from North Shore HS that played at Arizona.

A little undersized and not considered to be a 3rd rounder by most. But fills a need, a project player with a good motor, burst.

had 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackle for loss, 4.65 in 40 so quick, guess we will see, some had him in mid rounds

Arizona: 3L... Team co-captain in 2009... One of Arizona's true freshmen offensive regulars in 2006, Mitchell has progressed to become a key in the defensive front... Big athlete and one of the top 11 players on offense or defense throughout his career... Moved to defensive tackle in spring '08 after two years as a tight end and H-back in the program, and the move was effective... Clearly the consistent factor up front for the No. 24-rated Wildcat total defense, leading all linemen with 40 hits... Career-high eight tackles against Toledo... Strong down the stretch with 16 hits in the final four games... Coaches' citation for defensive player of the week against UCLA and ASU... Had a good two years as a big man in the backfield on offense... Caught five passes for 38 yards, (including the first `spread offense' receiving touchdown at BYU) in 2007... Had a kickoff return for eight yards vs. UCLA from a wing position... Five starts as a tight end or H-back... Caught nine passes for 136 yards in 2006... First touchdown catch was a game-igniting play at Oregon... Career-best two grabs in LSU, Cal and Oregon games... Seven starts as the big back or tight end... Rushed four times for seven yards in short-yardage situations... Had UA's lone blocked kick of the year, a tipped punt at LSU... One of the Cats' early commitments in '06 class... Helped continue the program's recruiting focus in the greater Houston area...

High School: North Shore Senior High School, Galena Park, Texas, 2006... 2005 first-team All-District 23-5A honors for coach David Aymond... 5A All-Region III second-team... No. 9 tight end on Texas HS Football.com top 200 ... Houston Chronicle top 5 area receivers recruit... Dave Campbell's Texas Football Top 10 tight end... Dallas Morning News State 100... Rivals.com postseason Texas 100 honors... SuperPrep All-Midlands... SuperPrep All-Southwest in 2005... Mustangs were 11-1 under coach Dave Aymond in 2005, their lone loss in area playoffs... San Antonio Express Texas 100, No. 82... Port Arthur News area top prospects list as tight end...

Personal: Academic major is interdisciplinary studies... Follows some North Shore products that were UA starters - Sean Jones, Chris Johnson, Michael Jolivette and Reggie Sampay... Date of birth: Sept. 25, 1987.
http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sport...ll_earl00.html
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Mitchell is a Houston native it would appear.
"Team co-captain in 2009" - I like that.
This guy sounds like he's pretty athletic.
I think this is what they call "a sleeper", or it seems the Texans think he is.

here is a nice article about the kid

He might be able to block on the goal line in a jumbo package, and I would think he will be one of the wedge guys on ST.

Nice off the radar pick, he was rated 213 by cbssports.com

I like the pick, he fits the Lamarr Houston mold IMO.

Welcome home, Earl.

Situational player.... He'll go into jumbo goal line packages and report as an eligible receiver. He will also add depth to the D-line.

He should have been number 1 on Roy's My Guys just for that...

He should be a good blocker on special teams but remember the NFL has outlawed wedge blocking on kickoffs due to injury concerns.

But that is still the name of the position of the 4 guys who stand on the 20 on kickoffs. They still can pair up but they can not group up (more than 2 guys within X yards of each other), The problem still is the gunners (outside guys) still move toward the center of the field and the wedge comes back together in the course of blocking the defenders running toward the ball carrier.

That is never called as long as the 4 guys do not start out together.

Anybody doubting this kid's abilities should check this video out.

He's got a great motor and looked good against USC's ground game, winning player of the week AND the game. Not to shabby.