Georgia Football: Malcolm Mitchell Looking to Be a Star on Offense and Defense

Malcolm Mitchell could be the most important player coming into spring practice.

Because of the lack of depth at the cornerback position, Mitchell will see some playing time there and still see time at the wide receiver position.

This move is after the team dismissed three of its players, two of which were cornerbacks. Also, starting cornerback Sanders Commings is suspended for the first two games due to being arrested in late January for a simple battery and domestic violence charge.

So the Bulldogs have to think outside the box and see if Mitchell can make plays on the opposite side of the ball.

Honestly, this should come naturally to him because he was a shut-down corner when he was at Valdosta High School (Ga.). Scout.com had Mitchell ranked as the seventh-best cornerback in the country, and Scout staff writer Chad Simmons complimented on his hands and change of direction.

However, one of the things Simmons also said is he had a lack of jamming ability and backpedal quickness. Because of his speed and athleticism, Simmons felt like if he got more reps at cornerback in his he would learn from his mistakes and would get really good in a short amount of time.

In fact, Mitchell asked Richt if he could play some corner during the Outback Bowl. Richt was not too keen on the idea at the time, but since the Bulldogs only have nine scholarship defensive backs on the roster, they almost have no choice but to have Mitchell at least try the position and see where he fits.

The goal for the Bulldogs is to have Mitchell turn into the next Champ Bailey and do it all on the football field. Champ was known for not only his playmaking ability on defense, but for his dominating presence as a wide receiver.

Is Mitchell as talented as Bailey? Can he be a guy that can make plays on defense as well as on offense? Ultimately, it will be up to Mitchell and if he can adjust to Grantham’s scene. Few high schools run the 3-4 and Valdosta is not one of those schools. But because of his solid fundamentals and explosive speed, Mitchell should be able to adjust really quickly.

Here’s another question: Is Mitchell playing both ways the best move for the Bulldogs? It’s obvious it’s the only move because of the secondary situation, but it’s also a great move. In college football, you need your best athletes on the field as much as possible. It’s safe to say Mitchell is the Bulldogs' most athletic player, so having him play at corner as well as wide receiver should not be an issue.

Mitchell showed what he can do on offense last year by finishing in fourth place in the SEC for receiving yards per game. Now it’s time to show the Bulldog nation why he is truly a key member of the 2011 “Dream Team.”