Florida DB Miguel Mitchell Transfers to Arkansas
Photo: Gators safety Miguel Mitchell; Credit: Zach Goodall
Former Florida safety Miguel Mitchell is transferring to Arkansas, the Razorbacks announced on Friday.
A late addition to Billy Napier’s 2022 transitional recruiting class as the newly minted head coach at Florida at the time, Mitchell was considered a high-upside three-star prospect. He chose Florida over the likes of Tennessee, LSU and Oregon, programs in pursuit of his services before he put pen to paper on National Signing Day.
After a rapid acclimation process upon his arrival in Gainesville, Mitchell broke into the secondary rotation midway through his true freshman season, serving as the team’s STAR nickel cornerback in heavy packages designed to combat short yardage or jumbo set offensive personnel groupings.
He flashed promise at the spot early, sporting a towering frame at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds as a third-level defender.
As the year went on, Mitchell appeared in the Florida backend, working with fellow frosh Kamari Wilson in the two-deep rotation in relief of starters Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II.
His play earned him a frequent role in the Gators 2023 gameplan when the year commenced.
However, despite the promising intangibles he sported working downhill as a run stopper at heavy STAR, Mitchell’s speed and open-field tackling lapses proved detrimental to his career at Florida.
Mitchell was ultimately passed over by true freshman Bryce Thornton to operate alongside fellow rookie Jordan Castell by the season’s end, resulting in Mitchell's decision to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 13.
The Oxford, Ala. native appeared in 24 games, with eight starts, for the Gators over two seasons. He accounted for 52 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, three passes defended and a forced fumble.
He’ll aim to resurrect his collegiate career as a junior with the Razorbacks in 2024, remaining in the Southeastern Conference.
Mitchell is the 16th Gator who departed via the transfer portal this offseason to find a new home.
Florida has reeled in two transfer safety pledges since the end of the 2023 season from Trikweze Bridges (Oregon) and DJ Douglas (Tulane). They’ll join incumbent starters Castell and Thronton as well as 2024 signees Josiah Davis and Gregory Smith III in the position room commanded by Will Harris next season.
Find Florida's full log of transfer portal activity here.
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