The Alabama Crimson Tide’s Freshman Safety and former 4-Star recruit, Tony Mitchell, entered the Transfer Portal on April 30, 2024. Mitchell is 6’1”, 205 lb safety and was the 15th ranked safety and 195th overall ranked recruit in the 2023 recruiting class. It sounds like Mitchell practiced with the Tide through the Spring, but never even suited for their annual A-Day Spring Game.
As a true freshman, Mitchell mainly contributed on Special Teams and recorded just one tackle in seven appearances. Unfortunately for Mitchell, his college career had a rocky start. In March 2023, while enrolled at Bama for spring ball, Mitchell was one of two arrested during a traffic stop stemmed from them traveling at 141 MPH. During said traffic stop, they were also found with 226 grams of marijuana, a loaded gun, and over $7k in cash.
In May 2023, Mitchell was put on probation for three years. He also had to pay $1,560, will have to serve 100 hours community service, and will supposedly receive drug counseling. Mitchell was suspended for the incident by then Alabama HC Nick Saban, but was reinstated to start the summer.
Mitchell is one of 9 Defensive Backs(5 Safeties) who left Alabama this offseason through the Transfer Portal. However, despite the losses in the Safety room, the Crimson Tide have brought in talent to replace the talent lost. They brought in 4-Star(as both recruits and transfers) safeties Keon Sabb from Michigan and King Mack from Penn State. They also brought in 3-Star transfer safety from Charlotte Kameron Howard.
Knowing what Alabama brought into the Safety room via the Portal, some may think it’s obvious why Mitchell transferred. It would make sense until you realize that King Mack and Kameron Howard transferred in after spring ball. It was reported though that Mitchell’s role was uncertain under Coach DeBoer and the new regime. Apparently, Mitchell wasn’t part of even the 2nd team safeties during spring ball practices, pre-additions.
Mitchell’s Portal interest must’ve been somewhere between slim and none. We have to assume that his March 2023 arrest played at least a small part in teams not having a ton of interest in the former 4-Star recruit. Mitchell did land on his feet though, committing to East Mississippi Community College, which is JUCO ball.
For those who think EMCC sounds familiar, it’s because it should. EMCC was featured in the first two seasons of the hit show Last Chance U. We hope that Mitchell is able to grow and gets the development he needs at EMCC as both a person and a football player. We wish nothing but the best for Mitchell, and hope to see him back in Power 4 football sooner rather than later!