Sophomore running back Denzel Mitchell of Jonesboro continued to shine this season with 13 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns against Searcy on Friday.
Mitchell, 6-0, 200, 4.41 seconds in the 40 yard dash, has scholarship offers from Ole Miss and Arkansas State while drawing interest from Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson and Texas Tech. He has rushed 117 times for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Hurricane Coach Randy Coleman was confident Mitchell would preform at a high level on the varsity level after excelling at McArthur Junior High last year.
"We knew when you have the size and the speed and the hard-nose approach he has that he was going to be a good player," Coleman said. "When we finished spring ball this year and we were headed into all the team camps in June he did really well."
"We knew he was going to be pretty good. After our first team camp at Arkansas State they offered him It wasn’t just us seeing it."
Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited the school Oct. 21 to check on Mitchell. Coleman said Mitchell uses his size well.
"When you’re 6-foot and 200 pounds, you’re usually not going to lose the collision often," Coleman said. "We’re not surprised by anything He’s gotten better in pass protection. He’s real unselfish. We change people in and out quite a bit. When his number is called he delivers."