Eagles' new cornerback Quinyon Mitchell reveals why he turned down Nick Saban and Alabama
Philadelphia Eagles' new cornerback Quinyon Mitchell spent his entire college career playing at Toledo, despite being highly sought after in the transfer portal last year. The crazy part about that sentence is that Mitchell never even entered the transfer portal, but that didn't stop THE Nick Saban from trying to get him to come play for […]
Philadelphia Eagles' new cornerback Quinyon Mitchell spent his entire college career playing at Toledo, despite being highly sought after in the transfer portal last year.
The crazy part about that sentence is that Mitchell never even entered the transfer portal, but that didn't stop THE Nick Saban from trying to get him to come play for the Crimson Tide.
"He was our No. 1 guy in the portal last year to try to get him to come out of the portal, and he didn’t ever get in the portal," Saban said on the broadcast moments after Mitchell's name was called at No. 22 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With Saban's comment in mind, Mitchell was asked on the night of the draft why he never left Toledo.
“Money and other opportunities, they’re just not bigger than relationships,” Mitchell told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark. “The relationships I had at Toledo were so strong. That’s why I stayed. I love those guys, I love everybody in the organization. It’s just the relationships."
That's an answer from a man who simply just loves to play football right there, and it worked out in his favor.
"Toledo just stuck with me through the whole process,” he added. “Gave me a fair chance to play ball when nobody else wanted to. So when the time came around, it was a no-brainer. I wasn't going anywhere, I wasn't leaving, no matter how much money or who came to offer. That's why I went to Toledo and that's why I stayed.”
Last Thursday night, Mitchell became the first Round 1 cornerback from the Mid-Atlantic Conference player selected since the Tennessee Titans picked wide receiver Corey Davis at No. 5 overall out of Western Michigan in 2017.
He also became the first cornerback the Eagles have taken in the first round since 2002.
Mitchell makes the jump to the pro level after three seasons at Toledo where he racked up 123 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one sack, 45 passes defended, and six interceptions for the Rockets.
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They believe in him!
