Kiffin visits Hillsborough’s Mitchell

Posted Oct 15, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Oct 15, 2009 at 05:29 PM

University of Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was slated to drop by Hillsborough High’s football practice Thursday afternoon to meet with Terriers safety Terrence Mitchell, Hillsborough head coach Earl Garcia said.

“I’ve got written on my chalkboard ‘Tennessee, New Mexico, North Carolina and Arkansas,’ with all of those schools planning to visit here,” Garcia said. “They all want T-Rex [Mitchell] and I’m sure they’ll look at [quarterback] Tarean [Austin], too.”

Kiffin, the former defensive coordiantor for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and father of Vols head coach Lane Kiffin, has been interested in Mitchell for some time and has already made a scholarship offer to the Terriers senior. Mitchell and Austin were also invitees to last summer’s Vols football camp in Knoxville, Tenn.

But most of the Southeastern Conference—including Florida—has also made an offer to Mitchell. Outside the SEC, he has offers from North Carolina, Florida State, Miami, South Florida, Ohio State, Michigan, California, Penn State, Michigan State and Iowa State. To date, Mitchell has taken just one official visit—to the University of Georgia. Sources at FSU say he is leaning toward the Seminoles, who are also recruiting him as a track athlete. Mitchell says the race for his services is still open.

The 5-10, 160-pound Mitchell has always played safety for Hillsborough but most schools are recruiting him as a cornerback. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Austin, who has already thrown for more than 1,000 yards midway through the saeason, has more than a dozen Division-1 offers, including South Florida, Iowa State, Purdue, Michigan State and Marshall.