COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A hamstring injury suffered in fall camp held Ohio State football’s Teradja Mitchell back from being the player he could be in 2019.
The sophomore linebacker was a consensus top 50 national recruit coming out of Virginia Beach (Virginia) Bishop Sullivan. He played with the first string a bit last spring when some of the Buckeye veterans battled injuries.
Yet the 6-2, 242-pounder has not yet broken through the rotation — in part due to the talent ahead of him, and in part because that hamstring cost him four games this season.
In the Lucas Oil Stadium locker room after the Buckeyes’ 34-21 victory over Wisconsin for the Big Ten championship, Mitchell was not looking for sympathy. Instead he spoke of lessons learned when circumstances deviate from expectations, and what the team can still accomplish in the weeks ahead.
“Obviously this season has been just a humbling experience,” Mitchell said. "It’s definitely helped me get stronger — just having to push through adversity. But it’s been a great season. I love playing for this team, this program. I’m just blessed to be here.
“I’m happy that we just we just won a Big Ten championship. We’re running the race. We work so hard for this all year round, and it’s just a blessing to finally see it all come to fruition.”
Mitchell recorded 12 tackles, including two for loss, across his nine games. A year ago at this time, it seemed an opportunity might exist for younger players such as Mitchell to step up and seize a role. Instead, senior Malik Harrison and juniors Tuf Borland, Baron Browning and Pete Werner raised their level of play and dominated the first-team snaps.
It is possible all three of those juniors could return next season, as well as promising sophomores K’Vaughn Pope and Dallas Gant. The linebacker room could be just as crowded and even more experienced.
Mitchell said he simply wants to help the unit however he can, and be believes linebackers coach Al Washington is helping him achieve that goal.
“He’s teaching us the fundamentals of football — using our hands, getting off blocks, learning, diagnosing plays pre-snap," Mitchell said. "I feel like I’m an all-around better football player.
“It’s been great to play for this university. It’s really what it was when I was recruited to come here and to get developed. I’m definitely getting developed.”
Mitchell at the very least is poised for another big special teams role in 2020. He and Pope have shared backup Will duties behind Harrison. If Browning returns and the Buckeyes opt to continue pairing him with Borland at Mike, a starting spot could be up for grabs.
Only USC’s Palaie Gaoteote IV was ranked higher among inside linebackers in the 2018 recruiting class. If those assessments were correct, Mitchell has not yet reached his potential.
For now, his thoughts are on the potential of a team headed for a College Football Playoff semifinal with Clemson and a collective breakthrough.
“My main goal is to win the national championship year in and year out and just help put this team in better situations to win games,” Mitchell said.
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