Interview: 3-Star St. John Bosco 2018 QB Re-al Mitchell Guiding Braves through Tough California Playoffs

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The test is on for dual-threat quarterback Re-al Mitchell. The junior quarterback took over the helm of St. John Bosco’s offense in 2016 in the tall shadows of Josh Rosen (UCLA) and Quentin Davis (Fresno State) but the Braves have not missed a beat posting an 11-2 record so far this season. Bosco has a chance to advance to California’s state title game with a win on Saturday against Trinity League rival Mater Dei a feat not surpassed by Rosen or Davis.

The 2016 CIF Southern Section High School Football Championship Game will be a who’s who of California talent on Saturday night. The Monarchs are 13-0 on the season having steamrolled past every opponent this season except for one. In 13 games Mater Dei has put 719 total points on the board while limiting the opposition to 144. The 55 points per game scored on average for the Monarchs was limited by one team – St. John Bosco. Until Vista Murrieta posted 30 points against Mater Dei, 16 in the third quarter and seven in the fourth after the Monarchs went into the locker room up 35-7, Bosco had the highest point total against the No. 1 ranked team in the nation.

Mitchell had a learning experience against Mater Dei, a process all top athletes must go through. The loss was a tough one but more importantly Mitchell learned from the experience and has been better for it going forward. On the season, the 5-11.5, 185 pound, speedster with a gunslinger’s arm has completed 66 percent of his passes covering 2,679 yards in the air with 28 touchdowns. On the ground, he has been brutal to the competition adding another 886 yards with 13 more scores keeping drives alive and points on the board.

Bosco has faced some tough teams this year going up against one of Ohio’s best in St. Xavier, Nevada’s best in Bishop Gorman, Centennial last week – another Top 10 team in the nation, and get Mater Dei one more time for a chance to bring home state honors while possibly claiming top national honors.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Mitchell previewing the Braves game against the Monarchs while covering his junior season with an update on his recruiting process.

Interview

Re-al, the Centennial game was a shootout going down to the wire before you guys pulled out a 49-47 win. What was that game like for you?

“For me, it was a matter of knowing that Centennial would score on every possession. We had to match their score each time on we got the ball. Whoever had the ball last was going to win that game. I am thankful for our defense being able to stop them a couple of times. We were able to put some drives together and pull the win out.”

The Braves are the No. 4 team in the nation, how does that feel to know you are the key person running the offense for one of the top teams in the nation?

“It does not really feel out of character. Going to Bosco, they are always ranked. It was expected knowing the team would be ranked. It is cool and unique. I’m blessed and fortunate to be in my position.”

You guys get Mater Dei next. They just steamrolled Rancho Cucamonga 48-21. What kind of challenge do they bring to the field for the Braves?

“For us, it is really just being focused on us as a team than them. If we execute, no one can stop us. They are a good team. We might lose a play here or there to them off athleticism but if we make the right mental play that should take care of it. They have great D-I players. They may out physical us but if we do what we can do no one should be able to stop us.”

How are you preparing for the Monarchs after facing them earlier in the season?

“I’m taking a mental approach to manage the game and with the thought to not do too much with the ball. I did that well against Centennial well. I’m trying to take that same mentality into this game. When the big plays come, I will take full advantage of it.”

You got some snaps in last year during your sophomore season but have been the man for the Braves throughout the 2016 schedule. How has your game gotten better from Game 1 against St. Xavier, now No. 21 in the nation (MaxPreps), to Game 13 against Centennial, a Top 5 team in the nation?

“With my game, I feel as if I have not changed anything necessarily but the game has slowed down. Mentally it is all coming together faster. I’m going through my progressions, not just one or two but all of them. From Game 1 to 13, everyone on the offense has stepped up. Not just one player on the team, but everyone. It is a collected effort. My team has helped me. We have great senior receivers that have helped me out a lot.”

Which game has been your toughest this season and how did you learn from that game to get better going forward?

“I’d say the Bishop Gorman game. Winning the first half but not being able to close out the second half was painful. That was a monumental game. I was able to take the defeat and use that as motivation to close out the season. Although we lost to Mater Dei, we are getting a second chance against them to make it right. The Gorman game was a tough game mentally. We could have won that game. Mentally, I feel I have improved from that experience.”

Let’s switch to recruiting. I see different amount of offers for you out there. How many do you have?

“That I know of, three – Utah, Arizona, and Cal Poly.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now but have not offered you yet?

“I just took a visit to Penn State, they are showing a lot of interest. I like them a lot. They run the same offense that we run at Bosco. Northwestern is showing a lot of interest. We have a receiver committed there, that helps. Those are my only two interest from the Big Ten, something I did not expect. I feel blessed. From the Pac-12, Washington, Oregon State, and Washington State, and that’s about it. I think that’s it. I took a visit to Vanderbilt in Tennessee. I have to get back with them after the season. Ole Miss – I talked to them a couple of months ago too.”

How did your visit to Penn State go? Sounds like it went really well.

“It was awesome. I talked to the head coach (James Franklin) and their OC (Joe Moorhead) a lot. Franklin was very charismatic and friendly. He talked to my mom on the phone, that was funny to see. I spoke with their OC about my recruitment. He said I was one of their top prospects in the class. They are not big into offering quickly like other schools but I am on top of their list. They compared me to Trace McSorley (starting quarterback). We are the same height and have the same type of play making ability.”

Topic switch, how is everything going in the classroom?

“I have a 3.7 cumulative. I am hoping to get that up to a 3.9 or 4.0.”

Have you taken the SAT or ACT yet?

“No, not yet. I will start taking the standardized tests in the spring.”

Re-al, thanks for your time today and good luck against the Monarchs on Saturday.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: USA Today; No. 11 Re-al Mitchell pre-game.

Photo credit: Mitchell family; Re-al Mitchell with PSU head coach James Franklin.

Photo credit: Press Telegram Media Center; No. 11 Re-al Mitchell finds a receiver downfield.