Mitchell returns to practice, showing great progress

Posted Oct 27, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Oct 27, 2011 at 08:48 PM

USF sophomore receiver/punt returner Terrence Mitchell returned to practice this week, his first time back on the field since leaving the Sept. 24 win over UTEP on a stretcher after suffering a concussion.

Receivers coach Phil McGeoghan said after Wednesday’s practice that Mitchell has shown tremendous progress since suffering the injury, which occurred when Mitchell made a tackle on a fake punt attempt.

“He’s come a million miles, and I’m excited about Terrence. Having him out there, his energy and just his personality out there, he’s a great young man,” McGeoghan said. “To have him out there with the unit kind of boosts everybody up. It’s encouraging. His progress is great, his reaction time is back up, he’s catching the ball well.”

USF coach Skip Holtz, who said last week that Mitchell had been working out sympton free, has said previously that coaches and trainers will proceed with caution regarding Mitchell, a former Hillsborough High standout who also suffered a concussion during his prep career that sidelined him for a few weeks. McGeoghan echoed those sentiments but added it’s “not out of the question” that Mitchell could play Nov. 5 at Rutgers if he’s cleared by the team’s medical staff.

“We’re going to err on the side of caution with Terrence and we’re going to be extremely smart about that, but it’s great to have him out there running around and catching the football again,” McGeoghan said. ”