Lance Mitchell is healing from abdominal surgery.
Former Oregon State S Lance Mitchell had surgery on his lower abdomen right after the season in the last week of November, and is now recovering at home in Pasadena, Calif., while he plays with his daughter.
Mitchell played all season in pain, but was still an impact player with two interceptions, six pass breakups and 76 tackles, which was third on the team. He has been slowed by groin and abdomen issues the last two years.
“We are in the swing things doing rehab,” Mitchell said. “There’s a 97-98 percent chance I’ll be ready to go full speed by the middle of January.”
The lack of a bowl game helped Mitchell. If the Beavers played in one this season he would delayed his surgery and recovery. Now he has a chance to train at one of the high-end training facilities so he’s ready to work out for NFL scouts .
Mitchell is ranked the No. 26 safety in the draft by NFL Draft Countdown. If healthy, he would be ranked higher.
“Hopefully, I can get right and get an invite to the NFL combine (in February), if not I’ll look forward to OSU’s pro day (in March),” Mitchell said.
There’s a chance he’ll be invited to a postseason all-star game, which is a week-long showcase for NFL scouts with the practice. He’s interested if he’s healthy enough. They are in sprinkled out in January and February.
“I’m not nervous about the situation I’m in,” Mitchell said. “I’m felling good about the surgery. I’m jogging now, and trying to get my mind right. I’m pretty confident I’ll be ready with the time I have.”
5 comments
Mike says:
Dec 20, 2011
Good Luck Lance, you always gave it all out there on the field.Imagine if you had been healthy !
Hope you are successful with your NFL aspirations,
bbb says:
Dec 20, 2011
i think he has a career ahead of him in the nfl. i would guess he could catch on for 4-6 years in the league. good luck lance. thanks for being a gamer while here. wish the coaches had recruited better for your time as a beav.
bbb says:
Dec 20, 2011
cliff-
off topic but can you chime in on the lack of recruitment of the DT position thus far? we have one guy over 300 lbs in the program and he broke his leg last year. we have a coaches son who is undersized and a bunch of kids who are either undersized, havent played, or both.
banker’s gap cancellation scheme is predicated on the d line filling the gaps and the backers running down hill to make the play. we are having our safties make way too many tackles because the d line play is so bad. wouldnt a couple run stopping DT’s from the JC ranks really bolster that scheme? there are a several guys who are “interested” in becoming beavs at this postion but we dont seem to close the deal with these types. or we close the wrong deal (simi kuli) and the kid never sees the field.
i know i am borderline obsessed with the recruitment of this position but that is becasue running the ball and stopping the run leads to wins. it has for over a hundred years and will for another hundred years.
thanks in advance.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Dec 20, 2011
I will in a little bit.
bbb says:
Dec 20, 2011
ok thanks.