Welcome to Gator Nation Teradja Mitchell! (Photo Credit: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire, Getty)
It’s no secret that the Florida Gators need help at the linebacker position. Especially now after the departures of veterans Amari Burney and Ventrell Miller.
This position group has been much maligned and blamed for some of the shortcomings for the defense dating back to the 2020 season. Despite the signing of Jaden Robinson- a player that our staff at In All Kinds Of Weather is very high on- there is still a need at the position for the 2023 season.
Therefore, Billy Napier continues the major roster rebuild he’s been orchestrating by hitting the transfer portal. Tonight, Ohio State LB Teradja Mitchell made it official by committing to the Gators. Mitchell was a former top 50 prospect in the class of 2018 and committed to Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes in 2017.
Teradja Mitchell took a redshirt in 2018 and played sparingly in 2019-2020. In 2021, though, Mitchell finally got to display his talents. He was one of the leading tacklers in the linebacker room with 44 tackles that year- and that was after stepping up into a larger role for the Buckeyes’ defense when it mattered most against Alabama in the 2021 CFP National Championship game. This past season he battled injuries and hardly saw the field, which led him to seeking a new opportunity- and he’s choosing to pursue it at the University of Florida.
While Florida does return some contributors from last season in Derek Wingo, Scooby Williams and Shemar James, having Teradja Mitchell will be a major benefit to the depth at the interior LB position. Due to a redshirt and COVID year Mitchell will have at least one year of eligibility.
Where Mitchell will play is still yet to be determined, but he will look to compete for the starting middle linebacker role this spring once he arrives on campus.
