Mitchell, an All-American cornerback standout, can become the first MAC first round pick since 2017.
Not one. Not two. Not three. But four.
It was Oct. 8, 2023 when Quinyon Mitchell first appeared on the national radar. In a 52-32 shootout win over Northern Illinois, Mitchell captured the pigskin on four separate occasions and returned two for touchdowns. His four interceptions stood one away from the FBS record of five, which was last attained in 1972.
For the statistically outlandish performance, Mitchell received every honor in the book from Walter Camp National Player of the Week to Bronco Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week to MAC West Player of the Week.
That performance wasn’t a one-off showing; it was the inciting incident which spurred Mitchell’s NFL career, putting him on the map for a likely first-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft in Detroit. Western Michigan record-breaking receiver Corey Davis was the last Mid-American Conference product to be picked in the first round, landing fifth overall to the Tennessee Titans in 2017, but all signs and mock drafts point to Mitchell following in those hallowed footsteps after a standout career at Toledo.
Throwback to last season, when Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell snagged four interceptions in one game against NIU.
So far this year, he has 13 PBUs in 9 games. Absolute ball-hawk at 6’0”, 200, with 4.3 speed. No surprise he’s climbing up boards.
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) November 2, 2023
Mitchell first arrived on campus in 2020 during the pandemic-abbreviated season. In 2021, he blossomed into a full-time starter alongside cornerback Samuel Womack, who ranked top five in the FBS in pass deflections twice (2019 and 2021). While Womack broke up 15 passes in a stellar 2021 campaign, Mitchell was already surging on the other boundary with eight breakups and 34 tackles in a breakthrough season.
In 2022, Mitchell intercepted five passes — with four transpiring in that iconic Northern Illinois performance — to rank 11th in the FBS. But the cornerback became renowned more than just his ability to capture the ball. With 19 pass deflections, Mitchell checked in at second in the entire FBS. He also added 41 tackles and 3.5 tackles-for-loss to a loaded stat line on a MAC champion Toledo defense which allowed just 183 passing yards per game, good for 12th in the nation. As a result of spearheading such an elite unit, Mitchell was awarded First Team All-MAC honors as well as an AP Third Team All-American designation.
Mitchell ran it back in 2023, once again posting electrifying numbers in the pass breakup department despite opposing quarterbacks being cognizant of Mitchell’s abilities. Mitchell’s interception number dwindled down to just one, but he was an island otherwise, ranking third in the FBS with 19 breakups on the season and guiding Toledo to the nation’s 17th-ranked pass defense which allowed 183 yards per game on a 53.4 completion rate — fifth in the FBS. Mitchell secured First Team All-MAC honors once again, but upgraded to AP second-team All-American honors, and was regarded as an All-American by four of the five major selectors.
Mitchell finished his college career with 45 passes defended — in just a three-year span — which ranks him third among all players since 2005 behind Indiana’s Rashard Fant and Western Michigan’s Ronald Zamort. After a stellar college career, the two-time All-American earned an invite to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Despite not playing in the main event, Mitchell gained plenty of steam throughout the week for his 1-on-1 coverage reps.
Here is every one-on-one rep for #Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/fP64VS2mFC
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 31, 2024
Here is every one-on-one rep from #Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell from Day 2 of the Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/QyiZdUQVOi
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 31, 2024
The former Toledo star was also one of two MAC players to earn an invite to the 2024 NFL Combine, where he tested his speed, strength, and explosiveness in front of the largest conglomeration of NFL scouts.
Kent Lee Platte, the developer of the metric Relative Athletic Score (“RAS”), rated Mitchell a 9.79 out of 10 based on his Combine performance compared to other cornerbacks.
The extraordinary ranking primarily comes from his speed grades, which were in the upper echelon of all Combine participants. His 4.33-second 40-yard dash ranked third among the 2024 class, only trailing Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy and Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins. Mitchell also showed his range of athleticism, shining with 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and displaying a 38-inch vertical at the event in Indianapolis.
Some players show their NFL potential on the field. Others show it in the Combine. Mitchell demonstrated it in both, firmly entrenching himself in first-round grade territory.
So what elements of his game are scouts particularly enthusiastic about?
As shown in his Combine performance, Mitchell enters the professional ranks with an excellent build. He’s slightly over six feet tall, possesses linebacker-like strength for the position, yet moves with some of the best speed in the draft class. He plays with an insane amount of agility and recovers quickly from being out of position by taking smart angles.
It’s safe to say that Quinyon Mitchell possesses NFL long speed. pic.twitter.com/NxtMo4MS5g
— NTB_43 (@NTB_43) April 12, 2024
Mitchell’s excellent ball skills come from his vision, and he was one of the best route readers in all of college football last year — translating to those 18 pass breakups. When he allows the catch, he’s also a great tackler, using a degree of physicality to instantly take down his assignments.
Quinyon Mitchell vs EMU is teach tape
— Doesn’t allow any WR to beat him over the top; actually offers the sideline due to his arrogant speed
— Patient diagnostic ability that allows him to drive down on the ball
— Recognizes when to play for a PBU and when to play for an INT pic.twitter.com/BdLThOfjTu— NTB_43 (@NTB_43) April 11, 2024
Mitchell primarily played off coverage at Toledo and rarely lined up in press. Learning how to thrive in press coverage and present some physicality at the line of scrimmage are elements of the cornerback’s game that can be improved at the next level. Additionally, his hip alignment when backpedaling is one area of technique that can also be refined. Even with one year coaching at the NFL level, Mitchell has potential to become even more polished and thrive as a No. 1 lockdown corner for years to come.
Overall, Mitchell is one of the best defensive back prospects the MAC has ever produced, with the pedigree to potentially become one of the conference’s best professionals in the modern era. Mitchell’s NFL dream will likely come to fruition in the first round Thursday night as either the first or second cornerback selected. Mitchell aims to become the first Toledo alum selected in the opening round since Dan Williams landed 11th overall to the Denver Broncos in 1993.