ESPN ranks top 50 newcomers in college football and wrongfully leaves key Tennessee Vols transfer off list
ESPN's Tom VanHaaren ranked the top 50 newcomers in college football this year (true freshmen, first-time starters, transfers, players who opted out in 2020) and he wrongfully left a key Tennessee Vols transfer off the list. For some reason, VanHaaren didn't include linebacker Juwan Mitchell among his top 50 newcomers. Mitchell joined the Volunteers during […]
ESPN's Tom VanHaaren ranked the top 50 newcomers in college football this year (true freshmen, first-time starters, transfers, players who opted out in 2020) and he wrongfully left a key Tennessee Vols transfer off the list.
For some reason, VanHaaren didn't include linebacker Juwan Mitchell among his top 50 newcomers.
Mitchell joined the Volunteers during the offseason after transferring from Texas.
The New Jersey native, who has two years of eligibility remaining, led the Longhorns in tackles last season with 62 in 10 games. That's 14 fewer tackles than Henry To'o To'o totaled for the Vols last season (To'o To'o transferred to Alabama and was ranked as the No. 1 newcomer by VanHaaren).
How is the leading tackler from Texas not among the top 50 newcomers in college football?
Especially when other players that have accomplished much less are on the list.
Mike Jones Jr, for example, compiled 30 tackles in 10 games for Clemson last season (he started seven of those games), before transferring to LSU during the offseason.
Jones is ranked No. 16 on VanHaaren's list.
Another linebacker that's accomplished less than Mitchell but still made the list is Maryland true freshman Demeioun Robinson, a four-star recruit who signed with the Terrapins during the 2021 recruiting cycle.
Robinson is No. 45 on the list.
Jones and Robinson might have more upside than Mitchell. I get that. But that doesn't change the fact that Mitchell has accomplished more than either of those players at the Power-5 level.
Maybe it was just oversight by VanHaaren. Whatever the reason, Mitchell definitely belongs on this list.
Of course, all that really matters for Tennessee is that he's wearing orange now.
Vols linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary is more than happy to have Mitchell on the roster.
"He (Mitchell) was a starter in another Power Five conference, so he brings a lot of savvy and brings a lot of veteran leadership, which is what this group needs," said Jean-Mary earlier this week. "He’s been a welcomed addition for our unit.”
UT defensive coordinator Tim Banks is also thrilled to have Mitchell.
"He was a kid that (was) see-ball, get-ball type of guy, a guy that’s relishing contact, but was also able to play in space," said Banks recently.
"From everything we understand, he had a really good camp in terms of his level of conditioning," added Banks. "So obviously, a guy that’s been in the fire. I think he’s eager to see how we do it here, and I think he’s really eager to get this thing going…so I’m excited about him."
Ultimately it doesn't matter whether or not Mitchell is on any "top newcomer lists" — even if he most certainly deserves to be. All that matters is he's going to play an extremely important role for Tennessee in 2021.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services/
