The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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at Western Kentucky. When Petrino was fired April 10, 2012, former Louisville and Michigan State head coach John L. Smith took over on an interim basis. The Razorbacks fell from an 11-2 squad in 2011 to 4-8 last year. Mitchell switched to wide receiver for the Razorbacks his redshirt junior season, and caught 17 passes for 272 yards in seven games played. Mitchell did get to throw one touchdown pass. On a reverse flea-flicker, he stood tall in the pocket and tossed a 26-yard score to wide receiver Javontee Herndon to give the Razorbacks a 17-7 lead over Auburn in an eventual 24-7 victory. Mitchell could have continued at wide receiver under new head coach Bret Bielema, but he had a burning desire to prove to himself once and for all that he could lead an offense at quarterback. He tried to win the starting spot at Arkansas this spring, but the Hogs went with redshirt sophomore Brandon Allen, and Mitchell decided it was time to leave Fayetteville, Ark. He was in the process of earning his degree, and the coaches who recruited him had long been gone. Enter NC State and first-year head coach Dave Doeren, who also happened to be Bielema's defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. The Wolfpack also had an ace in the hole with former Arkansas strength and conditioning coaches Jason Veltkamp and Brad Stewart plying their trade at NCSU following the coaching transition. The Wolfpack needed more depth at the position and competition for Thomas, who started 21 games at Colorado State. The terminology Mitchell learned at Arkansas is different than NC State's offense under coordinator Matt Canada, but the signal-caller didn't seem to be overly worried about the transition. "It's a lot different because here [at NCSU], it is more concept, progression, and Arkansas under Coach Petrino and Coach [Garrick] McGee [who is now head coach at UAB], it was always progression, progression," Mitchell said. "You had to know what pretty much every single person on the field was doing instead of picking one side of the field." Mitchell watched some video of Northern Illinois' offense to pick up what he could this offseason. The Huskies had a pair of 1,000-yard rushers at quarterback the last two years and loved running the zone-read option. Canada has always built his offense around the quarterback's skills. "Brandon is a smart football player and he makes plays, and is athletic with a very strong arm," Canada said. "He is a big fellow who can run a little bit and throws the ball pretty solid, pretty hard. "We have to soak him as fast as we can. We have to give him as much opportunity that we can to learn the offense and see what he knows." Mitchell's other hurdle in August was a more human one — learning the names of his new teammates. "That has been the hardest part, because when I see numbers out there I revert back to my old teammates at Arkansas, who I saw in the spring," Mitchell said. "I saw No. 80 [NCSU redshirt junior wide re- Mitchell, who threw only 43 passes in 12 games under center at Arkansas, is determined to prove he can play quarterback on the college level. photo courtesy Arkansas "I know I have the support system behind me and the coaching staff. I trust they'll do everything they can to make me a better quarterback." ■ Mitchell ceiver Bryan Underwood] and I called him Keante Minor. I tried to refresh myself and say Underwood." Mitchell admitted he still needs to lose about 10 pounds to get back into game shape, but he has tackled the competition head on— and in a respectful manner with Thomas. Both Mitchell and Thomas want the same thing, but also have a lot riding on whatever turns out to be Doeren's longterm decision. "We help each other a lot, and what I try and share with him after battling with Tyler [Wilson at Arkansas], is that no matter who wins the job, you always have to be ready," Mitchell said. "The better we both are, the better the team is." Mitchell had some rust to shake off at the start of NCSU's fall camp. He was essentially racing the clock to get ready for the season opener Aug. 31 against Louisiana Tech. Getting back into the practice groove was the first hurdle. "I knew where to go with the ball, but my timing and everything was off," Mitchell said. "I needed to anticipate better and get it out of my hands." What hasn't needed much fine-tuning is Mitchell's natural ability to lead teammates, which came through during the Wolfpack's scrimmages in August. "[A scrimmage] shows your vocal leadership," said Mitchell, who added he's a fiery leader whether in football or back in the days of playing prep basketball. "The more you make plays, the guys go back and watch the tape and see you making plays, the more they want to follow you." NCSU fifth-year senior wide receiver Quintin Payton said it's easy to notice Mitchell's confidence in the huddle. "He has showed us that he can be a leader, and has been vocal," Payton said. "He has made plays and adapted very well to the situation. He wants to learn as much as anyone else. "The receivers will tell him we are going to break this way, so he can throw it to the outside shoulder. That is what he is going to do to the best of his ability. He listens well and tries to encourage other people." Rivals.com ranked Mitchell as the No. 53 overall athlete in the class of 2009 and No. 16 player in Louisiana coming out of Amite (La.) High. He viewed himself more of a passer than a runner coming out of high school, and the Razorbacks were starting to produce NFL drop-back quarterbacks under Petrino. Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson both went on to get drafted. "All my life, I had been a passer," Mitchell said. "I actually didn't get fast until my senior year in high school. That is the funniest part about going to college, everybody thinking I'm a running quarterback." Mitchell completed 25 of 43 passes for 332 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in three years at Arkansas. "I got my shot to play quarterback [at Arkansas], but it wasn't really like a shot that I wanted to do," Mitchell said. "To be full-time quarterback and knowing they won't move me [at NC State], that is the biggest thing. "I know I have the support system behind me and the coaching staff. I trust they'll do everything they can to make me a better quarterback." ■ 36 ■ the wolfpacker 34-36.Brandon Mitchell.indd 36 8/23/13 2:59 PM