By Burt Leeson

Rocket cornerback is second in nation in pass breakups

11/21/2023

TOLEDO, Ohio – Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has received an official invitation to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The game will be held Saturday, Feb. 3 at 12 noon CT (1:00 p.m. ET) at Hancock-Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. and will be televised live on NFL Network.

Mitchell is second in the nation in passes defended with 17 (16 pass breakups, one interception) and pass breakups through 11 games. He was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award on Nov. 13. The award is given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in the country. He is the first Rocket ever to be a Bednarik semifinalist and the first player from a MAC school since Northern Illinois’ Sutton Smith in 2017.

Mitchell led the nation with 25 passes defended (five interceptions, 20 breakups) in 2022, and was named second-team All-America by Walter Camp, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus, and third-team All-America by the Associated Press.

The Senior Bowl began in 1950 and has been played in Mobile every year since 1951. Some of the biggest names in college football history have played in the Senior Bowl, including 17 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Mitchell would be the first Rocket to play in the Senior Bowl since Kareem Hunt and Michael Roberts led the North Team in the 2017 Senior Bowl. Hunt was named the North Team’s most outstanding player of the 2017 Senior Bowl after he rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries.

COURTESY TOLEDO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS