Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Will Transfer To NC State

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ESPN’s Joe Schad is reporting that former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell will be transferring to NC State.

“I like the culture, coaches, expectations within the program starting all the way at the top, and most importantly chemistry,” Mitchell said. “I felt I built it with players in just three days. Bottom line is I want to win, and I want to win now. They have the best opportunity there for success and just had one missing piece.”

Mitchell has one season of eligibility and will compete immediately for a starting position.

A senior, Mitchell is on track to graduate and be eligible to play this season. He competed with sophomore Brandon Allen throughout the spring at Arkansas but was listed as second team.

Mitchell (6-foot-4, 239 pounds) has appeared in 21 college games with three starts. He has caught 17 passes for 272 yards, is 25-of-43 passing for 332 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed 23 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

Mitchell also played in 13 games over 2 seasons for the Razorback basketball team averaging 2.9 points per game.

About WV Wolf

Graduated from NCSU in 1996 with a degree in statistics. Born and inbred in West "By God" Virginia and now live in Raleigh where I spend my time watching the Wolfpack, the Mountaineers and the Carolina Hurricanes as well as making bar graphs for SFN. I'm @wvncsu on the Twitter machine.

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31 Responses to Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Will Transfer To NC State

  1. Wufpacker 05/20/2013 at 8:06 PM #

    Now things are getting interesting.

    He’s caught 17 passes as well. That could make for the occasional interesting trick play, assuming of course any of our backs are capable of throwing the ball.

    Then again, maybe it’s best if we just let them concentrate on not putting it on the ground.

  2. transylvania 05/20/2013 at 8:07 PM #

    Wow! Eligible this season?

  3. redcanine 05/20/2013 at 9:04 PM #

    This guy was recruited by (and played for) Petrino, right? He might be alright.

    edit: I sort of feel like one of those Asian grounds crew staffers from ‘Major League’, if you know what I mean.

  4. wolffpride 05/20/2013 at 9:11 PM #

    Two words: Hell Yeah! I am really loving what this staff is doing. Maybe we can have a 9 win regular season. Just maybe…

  5. FergusWolf 05/20/2013 at 9:22 PM #

    are we getting a little over excited about a guy who only started 3 games and his career stats are somewhat less that what Glennon did in 1 game vs. Clemson —

    Mitchell (Career) – 25 of 43 for 332 yards and 2 TDs
    Glennon (1 game vs. Clemson) – 29 of 53 for 493 and 5 TDs

    Just Sayin’

  6. Wulfpack 05/20/2013 at 9:28 PM #

    Hope he can help us. The staff clearly not excited about what we have at QB.

  7. choppack1 05/20/2013 at 10:45 PM #

    Hopefully he can come in and compete for the starting job and be effective if he gets it.

    I think he has skill set staff is looking for.

  8. phillypacker 05/20/2013 at 10:49 PM #

    I don’t get this. This guy has happy feet, and it is an adventure for him to even complete a screen pass. Look at how bad his touch on the ball is. Bench must have already decided to go elsewhere because I see no D1 ability in Mitchel,. Remember, the film at this link is after playing three years of football at Arkansas. He comes to State as a senior. This is film from the March 2013 intersquad game at Arkansas.Why does Doeren want this guy?

    I will be thrilled to be proven wrong, but give me a reason to think this guy is an improvement on Thomas .

  9. coach13 05/20/2013 at 11:05 PM #

    Agree…don’t get the hype…another “prospect” at QB…this one a senior, with some experience. Are the others so bad we are getting excited about this? Hey hope its a homerun but geez.

  10. blpack 05/20/2013 at 11:11 PM #

    This says a lot about our current group. Competition is a good thing too.

  11. Wufpacker 05/20/2013 at 11:43 PM #

    Well, it’s not as if we didn’t know we were QB poor at this point. If he’s an upgrade for one year until we can get to Brissett (or whomever) then all the better. And yeah, even a little QB competition could be a good thing even if Thomas still ends up the guy.

    And as far as comparing him to what might have been Glennon’s best performance in his career….perhaps that’s a bit unfair. Maybe comparing his numbers to those of Glennon’s first two years would be a better objective look.

    I’m too lazy to go look those up at the moment, but I do know that Clemson game, if compared to Glennon’s own Frosh and Soph numbers, would look similar.

  12. Mike 05/21/2013 at 12:49 AM #

    If Mitchell comes in and WINS the starting job, it is a bonus. If he is a backup for one season, no big deal. We are not committed to him for 4 years. We have an open scholly, might as well take a chance. If it works – great. If not, no big investment or loss.

  13. tjfoose1 05/21/2013 at 1:00 AM #

    Excited? Hype?

    This is only a good thing. At worst, the kid is a realistic possibility to win the fall competition for starting QB. If he loses, no harm, plus the benefit of another healthy arm with diverse experience while increasing the competition and making all our QBs better.

    But given the options Mitchell had as far as where to transfer, I’d have to half venture this is probably an instant upgrade.

    Also, don’t look past this as far as defining a culture and sending a message to every player on this and future teams.

    Think about it. If you’re a player on this team, what are you thinking about this?

    In his first off season, Doeren may have already surpassed TOB in developing the right coach/player relationship…

    I love ya, I’m here for you, and we’ll have fun… but get the job done or I’ll find someone who will.

    I doubt ANY player will “coast it” through the off season, develop “attitudes”, or “pout”. Some of you may know to what I refer, but for an obvious example, see the UVA game last year.

    There’s a difference between being a hard and demanding coach and just being a hard ass, a difference I think TOB didn’t always recognize.

  14. StateFans 05/21/2013 at 4:08 AM #

    I think tjfoose’s comments are DEAD ON! Its a fantastic way to look at the situation.

    I don’t understand why Mike Glennon’s name is even mentioned in this conversation. If Mike Glennon had any eligibility left, then it would be relevant. But, who says anyone is as excited about (or expects as much) from Mitchell as we did Glennon?

    Does this move say more about the staff’s (lack of) confidence in Pete Thomas or more about their interest/desire to run their pistol offense?

  15. BJD95 05/21/2013 at 8:16 AM #

    I’m quite heartened that the staff doesn’t view this as a lost/rebuild year, even though I do.

  16. panic83 05/21/2013 at 8:21 AM #

    Any chance Mitchell sees the hardwood at State?

  17. TheCOWDOG 05/21/2013 at 9:49 AM #

    OK…Here’s what I know. The staff is concerned about Thomas’s ability to get the sideline throw consistently on the money.

    This route just happens to be key to what they want to do.

    BTW, ‘foose, thanks again for restoring what little faith I have remaining in the general populace.

  18. WolfBlood 05/21/2013 at 10:08 AM #

    If the guy gives you the opportunity to win even just 1 more game than Thomas or Stocker could have then it was a successful addition.

  19. ryebread 05/21/2013 at 11:01 AM #

    TheCowDog: That’d be in line with what I saw in the Spring game. Thomas looked fine on shorter routes, but on longer (and thus wider) throws, I didn’t see the arm strength and accuracy.

    I think the whole point of this offense is to stretch the game laterally. We’ll use formations, motion, rolling pockets and a running QB to do so.

    I don’t think we can play this pace if every route is vertical because the WRs can’t get up and down the field quick enough. It’s not to say that a vertical threat won’t be there, because if we don’t have it then we’re not nearly as effective.

    BJD: I’m with you. The staff had a built in excuse, but aren’t taking it. Gott’s staff was the same way. I like the hunger. I just didn’t see it with TOB (or with his basketball twin HWSNBN).

    statefans: I don’t think this says anything about wanting to run the pistol. Heck, we could have run the pistol with Glennon if we wanted given that’s just a formation. I do think it says something out our desire to have a dual threat QB.

  20. tjfoose1 05/21/2013 at 11:44 AM #

    “I’m quite heartened that the staff doesn’t view this as a lost/rebuild year, even though I do.”

    Even if it turns out to be a lost year on the field, the staff is certainly making sure it is not off it.

    It seems this staff is looking for QB’s under every rock to better the team. If you’re bored, just for fun, try to imagine how this staff might have handled the Wilson/Glennon situation, and it’s aftermath.

    Not saying I know (I don’t) but it is an interesting exercise.

    Something tells me the situation never develops with this staff. Not saying that’s a good thing, or a bad thing, just saying.

    Sometimes the best coaching and player management should not be measured by how well a problem is handled, but whether or not the problem ever develops in the first place.

    Thanks ‘Dog. I have a nugget every now and then. It helps to balance the occasional misstep onto that other realm that you’re pretty good at nudging me back from.

  21. packof81 05/21/2013 at 12:04 PM #

    Looks like we’re getting a few horses in the stable.

  22. tjfoose1 05/21/2013 at 12:19 PM #

    Let’s just hope they don’t top out at glue factory material.

  23. MP 05/21/2013 at 12:25 PM #

    All for the increased competition and resulting opportunity for the team to be better. I only have a problem with the quote:

    “…and just had one missing piece.”

    That’s kind of ‘bulletin board’ material to the other QBs. Hope he can justify it.

  24. FergusWolf 05/21/2013 at 12:32 PM #

    ^ I’m a little confused, because I thought we were missing several pieces…

    Granted, he’s coming from an SEC school, but I’m thinking that a senior quarter back who couldn’t find a way to start for his previous team (only 3 starts in 21 games, and obviously he doesn’t think he’s going to start this year) is not likely to be the “one missing piece” to our national championship (or even ACC championship, or even Atlantic Division championship, or even the mythical State of NC championship) season.

    My point in the comparison to Glennon above is not that I expect him (as a senior) to perform like Glennon (as a senior), but that there is just not enough information about him to crank up the hype machine.

  25. tdouble 05/21/2013 at 12:59 PM #

    NCSU NEEDS=BALLERS
    YOU=BALLER

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