Oakland Raiders Need Ohio U Safety Michael Mitchell

The safety from Ohio University Michael Mitchell was watching old clips from the NFL one day when he saw a safety that grabbed his attention. Michael stated in an interview that he just had to find out more about the safety he just watched on film.

The safety was the Oakland Raider's hard hitting Jack Tatum. Michael explained in the interview he looked up everything he could on the Internet to learn more about this safety that had so impressed him.

Michael went on to explain that since that day he wanted to play the safety position as Jack Tatum played the position with the Oakland Raiders. 

From watching this young man play I can say he would make Jack Tatum proud.

Michael Mitchell is 6'1" tall and 220 lbs. Although he was not invited to the NFL Combine he decided that he would make scouts take notice at his school's pro day. On Michael's first run at 40 yards he recorded a 4.43 and on another try he ran a 4.49 as he let up at the 35 yard mark because of a tweaked hamstring.

When he tackles someone on the field he knocks their legs right out from under them and delivers a wallop. The young man also has the instincts to play the position and reads and reacts on a play very fast. This guy is all over the field and loves the game of football.

I have included a video clip of some of his highlights in College. Watch him as he sits back and at how fast he diagnoses a play and gets to the ball. He arrives at the ball in a hurry and packs a punch on the poor sole that happens to have the ball.

Michael made 62 tackles, forced a pair of fumbles and picked off three passes in his senior year. This young man is just the type of player the Raiders need to put the Raider back in Raider football.

He sure would look good in Silver and Black and has the potential to give the Raiders the type of safety they have been lacking in recent years. I hope the Raiders do what ever they need to do come draft day to make sure this young man is wearing the Silver and Black in 2009. If they do not it will come back to haunt them some day.

Here is a link to Michael Mitchell's Highlights from College.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8KF2-_OXoA