Tag: dakota mitchell

Florida football defensive back announces medical retirement

Florida Gators defensive back Dakota Mitchell has to medically retire because of a birth defect in his back.

Florida football defensive back [autotag]Dakota Mitchell[/autotag] says it’s time to hang up his cleats and medically retire.

The sophomore has been dealing with a birth defect that’s caused severe back pain throughout his football career, dating back to his Pop Warner and high school football days.

Mitchell was recruited from Lakeland High in 2021 and the coaching staff carried high expectations for the hybrid safety. His back injuries became an anchor holding him back from reaching his full potential.

Mitchell wrote a teary-eyed post on social media to announce his leave.

“I knew this day would come soon, but not so soon,” Mitchell said. “I always questioned why my back was hurting. After extensive treatment, they found that I was born with a condition causing the pain.”

Mitchell trained his whole life to be a football star, but he says the Lord has chosen him a different path.

“I have been playing the game of football since I was five years old,” Mitchell said. “Growing up, football was all I knew and what pushed me to be the best version of myself. The game has been a blessing to this day.”

See Dakota Mitchell’s statement here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw8PXMUx8tf/

“I know God has other blessings for me with a different route and plan,” Mitchell said. “The game of football will forever live in me, and I will always bleed orange and blue. Go Gators forever!”

Because of his injury, Mitchell never gained enough reps to become a normal part of the cornerback rotation.

Mitchell thanked the University of Florida and everyone who supported him through his many years of playing football.

Head coach Billy Napier and the rest of the Florida Gators will keep preparing for the rest of the 2023 season. The team will hold its home opener Saturday against the McNeese State Cowboys at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPNU.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Safeties

Three returning starters headline the safeties group at Florida in 2022, but there’s a good amount of young talent behind them to be excited about.

Rounding out the defense in Gators Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Florida football roster are the safeties.

Florida’s scheme calls for five defensive backs and utilizes the nickelback position, which they call the STAR. Fortunately, the Gators return starters at all three positions in 2022. [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag] and [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] are back to man the safety spots, and [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] is at the STAR.

Behind them are a group of relatively young and inexperienced players, some of which could take a huge step over the season if they see enough snaps. At the top of that list might be [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], the surprise five-star signing that Billy Napier pulled off during the early signing period last year.

This should be one of the stronger position groups on the team this year given the returning experience in the room. Here is a look at all 13 safeties on the 2022 Florida football fall roster.

See also:

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Quarterbacks

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Running Backs

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Wide Receivers

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Tight Ends

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Offensive Line

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Defensive Line

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Outside Linebackers

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Linebacker

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Cornerbacks

Gators football drops to No. 8 in latest ESPN 2021 class rankings

ESPN unveiled their latest 2021 recruiting class rankings on July 23, and for the second-straight update, the Gators fell down the list.

ESPN unveiled their latest 2021 recruiting class rankings on July 23 (subscription required), and for the second-straight update, the Florida Gators fell down the list.

While the July 6 rankings saw the Gators drop two spots, the latest assessment was only a one-spot fall, resulting in the program slotting in at No. 8.

The Ohio State Buckeyes occupied the top spot, followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide, who moved up 11 spots, the largest jump of any program to make the network’s top-25.

Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels, Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers, and Ed Orgeron’s LSU Tigers, the reigning College Football Playoff national champions, completed the top-five.

“Dan Mullen’s third consecutive top-10 class in Gainesville is a near lock coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons and top-10 Associated Press Poll finishes, as well as the hiring of ace recruiter (tight ends coach) Tim Brewster,” ESPN began in their breakdown.

“Brewster immediately addressed the need at tight end with ESPN 300s Gage Wilcox and Nick Elksnis. There are two quarterbacks in the class in ESPN 300 Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and four-star Texan Jalen Kitna.

“A pair of ESPN 300 wide receivers are in the fold in Trevonte Rucker from an hour’s drive away and Georgia playmaker Daejon Reynolds. A third ESPN 300 wide receiver is Marcus Burke from Jacksonville powerhouse Trinity Christian.

“ESPN 300 in-state athlete Charles Montgomery could play on either side of the football. ESPN 300 Chief Borders is a versatile jumbo athlete who projects as an outside linebacker. A talented secondary group is made up of ESPN 300 and Tennessee flip Kamar Wilcoxson, LSU flip Dakota Mitchell, and four-star safety Donovan McMillon.

“ESPN 300 defensive end Tyreak Sapp will likely move to defensive tackle long-term. Four-star defensive end Justus Boone was a high-ceiling win out of the Palmetto State.”

The largest reason for Florida’s drop was four-star Baltimore, Maryland cornerback Clinton Burton, Jr.’s flip to the Boston College Eagles on July 17. Burton, Jr. was the second-highest rated commit in the cycle for the program, garnering a rating of 85 from ESPN, trailing only Sapp’s 86.

To make up for this loss, the Gators secured McMillon’s pledge the day after Burton, Jr.’s departure, and added Burke two days after that.

Overall, seven Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools made ESPN’s cut, representing over one-quarter of the list. Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs are No. 13, followed by Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M Aggies at No. 18, and Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers at No. 22.

Other notables include Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines at No. 10, Manny Diaz’ Miami Hurricanes at No. 11, Kirk Ferentz’ Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 21, and Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles at No. 23.

This No. 8 rating from ESPN is two spots higher than 247Sports’ view of Florida’s collection of prospects, which pegs the program at No. 10 nationally.

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18 Florida Gators commits named to Sports Illustrated’s All-American watch list

Featuring recruits in the 2021 class from all 50 United States, Sports Illustrated released their first annual All-American watch list.

Featuring recruits in the 2021 class from all 50 United States, Sports Illustrated released their first annual All-American watch list on July 15.

John Garcia, Jr., SI’s Director of Recruiting, spearheaded this project and AllGators’ Demetrius Harvey composed the initial list of the 18 Florida Gators commits to make the cut.

A total of 1,000 prospects earned this preseason recognition, with more than 700 of them having already announced their collegiate destination.

10 of the future Gators to receive this honor project to contribute on the offensive side of the football in Gainesville, led by Ocala four-star wide receiver Trevonte Rucker.

The No. 33 wideout in the class, per the 247Sports Composite, Rucker stands just under six feet and tips the scales at a reported 157 pounds. He will need to add some muscle to withstand the physicality of the Southeastern Conference, but strength and conditioning coach Nick Savage should have little trouble accomplishing that.

Each of the other two other receiver commits, Seffner’s Charles Montgomery and Loganville, Georgia’s Daejon Reynolds, both fellow four-stars, made the cut, as well. While listed as a wideout in this exercise, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Montgomery will likely line up in the backfield and see some carries at the collegiate level, too.

Both quarterback pledges, four-star Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Burleson, Texas three-star Jalen Kitna, also earned the nod from SI.

Set to play his senior season at Grayson High School, where he will be teammates with Reynolds, Del Rio-Wilson has been steadily rising in the recruiting ranks after a strong showing at the Elite 11 Finals in Nashville, Tennessee from June 29-to-July 1.

Other offensive commits to receive this recognition were Tampa four-star tight end Gage Wilcox, and four three-stars, Jacksonville tight end Nick Elksnis, and Orlando’s Javonte Gardner, Stone Mountain, Georgia’s George Jackson, and Lynn Haven’s Adrein Strickland, all offensive tackle prospects.

On the defensive side of the football, Fort Lauderdale four-star defensive end Tyreak Sapp, Florida’s highest-rated player in the class, led the charge. He was joined by future linemates Justus Boone, another four-star from Sumter, South Carolina, and Fort Myers three-star Christopher Thomas.

Carrollton, Georgia four-star Chief Borders was the lone linebacker pledge to make the list, with the other four future defensive Gators, Baltimore, Maryland’s Clinton Burton, Jr. and Bradenton’s Kamar Wilcoxson, both four-stars, and Winter Park’s Dakota Mitchell and Tampa’s Jordan Young, each three-stars, all residing in the secondary.

This means all 18 of Florida’s current high school commits made the list, with the two other players in the cycle, four-star outside linebacker Diwun Black and three-star guard Deyavie Hammond, both being junior college transfers.

247Sports ranks the program’s 2021 class as the ninth-best in the nation, while ESPN is slightly higher on the group, pegging them at No. 7.

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Florida Gators fall two spots in ESPN 2021 football recruiting rankings

ESPN released their updated 2021 recruiting class rankings on July 6 with the Florida Gators dropping two spots to No. 7 in the nation.

ESPN released their updated 2021 recruiting class rankings on July 6 (subscription required), with the Florida Gators dropping two spots to No. 7 in the nation.

“Dan Mullen’s third consecutive top-10 class in Gainesville is a near lock coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons and top-10 Associated Press Poll finishes, as well as the hiring of ace recruiter Tim Brewster,” the network began of their breakdown.

“Brewster immediately addressed the need at tight end with ESPN 300s Gage Wilcox and Nick Elksnis. There are two quarterbacks in the class in ESPN 300 Carlos Del Rio and four-star Texan Jalen Kitna.

“A pair of ESPN 300 wide receivers are in the fold in Trevonte Rucker from an hour’s drive away and Georgia playmaker Daejon Reynolds. ESPN 300 in-state athlete Charles Montgomery could play on either side of the football.

“ESPN 300 Chief Borders is a versatile jumbo athlete, who projects as an outside linebacker. ESPN 300 (cornerback) Clinton Burton, Jr. starred at the Under Armour Future 50. Joining Burton in a talented secondary group is ESPN 300 and Tennessee flip Kamar Wilcoxson and LSU flip Dakota Mitchell. ESPN 300 defensive end Tyreak Sapp will likely move to defensive tackle long-term.”

Last month was a busy one on the recruiting trail for Mullen’s staff, as the program added Mitchell, Wilcoxson, and Tampa cornerback Jordan Young in a four-day span from June 18-21.

Despite this run on talented players in the defensive backfield, the Gators were jumped by the Oregon Ducks, who moved up two spots in ESPN’s rankings to No. 5, and LSU, who saw a whopping five-spot increase to No. 6.

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Holding steady, the Ohio State Buckeyes continue to occupy the No. 1 spot, with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Tennessee, and Clemson Tigers completing the top-four.

Led by Del Rio, who will play his senior season at Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, Florida has 10 commits ranked in the ESPN 300, the second-most in the Southeastern Conference, trailing only LSU’s 11.

Other SEC schools to make ESPN’s top-25 were the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 13, Georgia Bulldogs at No. 14, Auburn Tigers at No. 21, and Texas A&M Aggies at No. 23.

While the two-spot drop is not what Gator fans would like to see, this No. 7 ranking is still two places higher than the program’s rating on 247Sports, which grades Mullen’s group as the ninth-best in America.

Florida is still chasing several players in the upcoming cycle who could vault the program back into the top-five, including Miami five-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, a player whom the school possesses all four of his Crystal Ball predictions, and IMG Academy four-star linebacker Xavian Sorey, considered by many industry experts to be an Alabama lean but one position coach Christian Robinson has been prioritizing.

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Georgia football recruiting target Dakota Mitchell makes commitment

Three-star defensive back Dakota Mitchell has committed to the University of Florida his top-5 was UGA, LSU, Alabama, UF and Oklahoma.

Three-star defensive back Dakota Mitchell (Winter Park, Florida) announced he would back off his commitment to LSU recently. He is a member of the class of 2021 and had reopened his recruitment.

Now, Mitchell has committed to the University of Florida. Mitchell was considering a top-five of Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma.

The 6-foot-0-inch, 184-pound prospect announced his commitment via Twitter:

If Mitchell sticks to his commitment, then the Georgia Bulldogs will see him for years to come. Kirby Smart and Georgia football are pursuing one of the best safeties in the class of 2021.

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Georgia makes top-five for former LSU commit Dakota Mitchell

Georgia football has made the top-five for former LSU commit Dakota Mitchell.

On Friday, 2021 three-star defensive back Dakota Mitchell (Winter Park, Florida) announced he would back off his commitment to LSU and reopen his recruitment.

Mitchell had been committed to the Tigers since March, when he picked LSU over Florida, Clemson, Miami, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.

On Sunday night, Mitchell revealed his top-five schools, which included Georgia.

Mitchell released a top-five of Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma. 

The 6-foot-0-inch, 184-pound prospect ranks as the nation’s No. 407 overall player and No. 28 safety in the class of 2021.

“First off, I want to thank the whole LSU coaching staff for showing me so much love, but I think it’s best for me to take time & really think about where I would want my next home for the next 3-4 years to be so with that being said I will be announcing that I will be de committing from the Lousiana State University & opening back up my recruitment 100%,” Mitchell wrote on Twitter.

Just over 24 hours after announcing his decommitment, Mitchell showed some love to the Georgia Bulldogs on Twitter.

DB Dakota Mitchell de-commits from LSU, quickly shows love to Georgia

DB Dakota Mitchell de-committed from LSU recently and then quickly took to Twitter to show love to Georgia.

On Friday, 2021 3-star defensive back Dakota Mitchell (Winter Park, Florida) announced that he would be backing off of his commitment to LSU and reopening his recruitment.

Mitchell had been committed to the Tigers since March, when he picked LSU over Florida, Clemson Miami, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, etc.

“First off I want to thank the whole LSU coaching staff for showing me so much love, but I think it’s best for me to take time & really think about where I would want my next home for the next 3-4 years to be so with that being said I will be announcing that I will be de committing from the Lousiana State University & opening back up my recruitment 100%,” Mitchell wrote on Twitter.

Just over 24 hours after making that announcement, Mitchell showed some love to the Georgia Bulldogs on Twitter.

The 6-foot-0, 184 pound prospect ranks as the nation’s No. 407 overall player and No. 28 safety in the class of 2021.

He will be dropping his top-five schools tonight (Sunday) at 6 p.m. ET.

 

Talented safety Dakota Mitchell makes commitment

Talented three-star 2021 safety Dakota Mitchell has reached his commitment. Mitchell chose between LSU, Georgia, and Florida.

The Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators were in another recruiting battle over this time over talented recruit Dakota Mitchell. Both teams missed their mark in this one as Dakota Mitchell committed to the LSU Tigers.

Mitchell is a three-star safety in the class of 2021. Mitchell announced his commitment via his Twitter account:

Georgia, Florida and LSU made his top three via Twitter:

For now, Mitchell is finishing his junior year in high school. He plays high school football at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida.

Mitchell is another talented recruit to be lured out of the state of Florida. Kirby Smart and Georgia have had previous success luring elite talent out of Florida, but this time coach Ed Orgeron and LSU lured Mitchell to Baton Rouge.

Dan Mullen and Florida are trying to prevent Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Clemson and others from taking over the state, but Florida, FSU and Miami have lost the battle over the past decade.

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Georgia, Florida battling for safety Dakota Mitchell

The Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators are in a recruiting battle for 2021 Winter Park High School safety Dakota Mitchell.

The Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators are in another recruiting battle. This time they’re fighting for three-star safety Dakota Mitchell. Mitchell is a member of the class of 2021.

He released his top three schools via Twitter:

Mitchell is choosing between the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, and LSU Tigers. Each school consistently produces elite defensive backs. Mitchell is a prospect to watch and see if he out-produces his three-star rating once he’s in college.  I suspect he may move up recruiting database rankings thanks to the major college attention he’s receiving.

For now, Mitchell is finishing up his junior year in high school. He plays high school football at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida.

Will Mitchell be the latest Florida recruit drawn to the Peach State? Kirby Smart and Georgia have had more success than ever in luring elite talent out of Florida. Dan Mullen and Florida are trying to prevent Georgia, Alabama, and others from taking over their state, but Florida, FSU, and Miami have lost the battle over the past decade plus.

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