The transfer portal is an incredible invention that has revolutionized the college football landscape. On one hand, it’s done a great job of giving players the same freedom that they get to see their coaches enjoy. They can up and leave bad or unadvantageous situations for what they would believe to be a better situation.
On the other hand, it has resulted in a sort of poaching system for larger programs to pick through and essentially drain the Group of 5 of its talent. We’ve seen a number of top-end G5 talents leave their programs to mid-tier Power 4 programs this year.
Nick Saban, in his first College Gameday appearance, may have dropped a nugget in passing. The Alabama Crimson Tide tampered with the Toledo Rockets star, Quinyon Mitchell.
Nick Saban Admitted to Tampering With Quinyon Mitchell
Nick Saban on ABC about Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell: "He was our No. 1 guy in the portal last year to try to get him to come out of the portal, and he would never get in the portal."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) April 26, 2024
With a roster that boasted numerous NFL-bound players. With that, they had corners who are set to hear their names at this year’s NFL Draft. Terrion Arnold was already drafted 24th overall to the Detroit Lions, just two picks after Mitchell. Kool-Aid McKinstry was expected to be a first-round talent but fell out of the top 32 in a historically offensive opening round.
Quinyon Mitchell was a STUD at Toledo
It’s not every day that a star is born at Toledo. The program has only ever produced one first-round selection prior to Mitchell and it was 31 years ago. Mitchell was an elite cover corner for the back-to-back MAC West champions and helped lead the team to a MAC Title in 2022.
Over the last two seasons, Mitchell was among the best in the nation. He totaled 82 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and a whopping 37 pass breakups. He’s the sole owner of the Rockets’ career PBU mark.
In 2022, he broke out in a massive way. Five of those interceptions came in 2022…four came in one game against Northern Illinois. Of those four, two were returned for touchdowns. He became the first player since 2000 to have four interceptions in a single game. It’s no wonder he caught the eye of College Football’s GOAT.
Last year, he was among the finalists for the Bednarik Award.
He was a two-time First-Team All-MAC selection and became the first Toledo player to be awarded at least one All-American honor from all five major publications.
If Nick Saban Wants You, How Do You Say No?
Arguments are futile and every fan will have their opinion. However, Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach of all time. From being the Toledo head coach in the 1990 season to his legendary reign with Alabama, Saban is the gold standard in football.
In total, Saban had a record of 271-71-1, good for a ridiculous .806 win percentage. He has seven national titles (three College Football Playoff titles) and has an incredibly long list of players sent to the NFL.
Mitchell could have easily jumped into the transfer portal after his breakout. Many expected him to! But he stayed loyal to those who stayed loyal to him. And that’s what it’s all about.
Quinyon Mitchell did it the right way. Spurning Nick Saban of all people is about as impressive as it gets.
Fly Quinyon Fly
With the 21st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Quinyon Mitchell. With how the Eagles’ defense faltered in 2023, it was a much-needed move.
Mitchell immediately joins the squad as the CB1 and will rejuvenate a unit that dropped from eighth-best to second-worst in scoring and second-best to sixth-worst in total defense from 2022 to 2023.
Here’s a full Quinyon Mitchell scouting report for Philadelphia Eagles fans.
