Interview: College Camps Pushing 3-Star 2022 California TE Tywon Mitchell Up Recruiting Boards
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
What couldn’t be fully showcased during the shortened 2020 California high school football season is being displayed at college camps this summer. Tywon Mitchell (6-3, 235) has been hitting camps along the west coast with the directive of making next level scouts recognize the skills. The hard work and determination has paid off with an offer from Army and interest brewing from Mountain West to Big Sky programs. The extra attention is coming at the right time as Mitchell transitions from St. Anthony’s in Long Beach to Western High School in Anaheim where he will be featured at tight end, slot, and receiver and on defense at outside linebacker and defensive end.
In an RNG update interview, Mitchell stopped back by the RNG Lab detailing his summer workouts with an overview on his camp circuit thus far.
*Click the link for the March 2021 RNG interview with Tywon Mitchell
Interview
Tywon, seeing all your Twitter posts, you’ve been really busy this spring and summer. Which camps have you been to so far?
I have been to an invite only UC Davis camp, a Sac State mega camp this past week, and Redlands.
At the Redlands camp, which colleges were there?
ASU, UNLV, San Diego, and others.
At the Sac State mega camp, which colleges were at that one?
Sac State, Colorado State, Boise State, Fresno State, Utah, San Diego State, and San Jose State. That’s all I can remember right now.
Have you competed at the camps as a tight end?
Yes, I have worked at tight end and also in the slot showing my versatility.
At the Sac State camp, tell me how that performance went for you?
I feel like it went really well for me. I got a lot of reps in front of a lot of colleges that I have been in contact with for a while. At that camp, I showed my versatility in the slot and in a three-point stance.
What were you able to showcase of your skills to the coaches?
I showcased the fact that I have really good feet; most tight ends don’t have a receiver’s footwork like I do. I showed I can move and put my body on the line for the ball, I had some diving catches.
What were some of the tips and tricks to the position that you’ve learned from college coaches that will help you going forward?
In my three-point stance, they told me to keep my feet centered which helps with burst off the ball. And they taught me to come off the line, even in three-point stance, using my hands. That was foreign to me at first but I have a good grasp on it now.
This offseason you picked up an offer from Army. After all this hard work pushing your talents to become a D-I player, what was that moment like for you hearing those sweet words that you were being offered?
It felt good. He actually joked about it. He asked me about my history grade, but I didn’t know what was talking about. He said, “March 12, remember it. That is the day Army is offering you.” My mom was right there, it felt very good having it all pay off.
Very cool story. After the camps, which programs are showing recruiting interest?
I am receiving serious interest from Idaho, Boise, Fresno, Eastern Washington, New Mexico, New Mexico State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Lehigh, and Sac State.
You transferred this offseason to a new school; which school will you be playing for this fall?
Western High School in Anaheim.
Do you know which positions you will be playing for Western High School?
On offense I am playing tight end and I will be flexed out at slot and sometimes at receiver. They will get me the ball. On defense I will be playing outside linebacker and playing some defensive end.
What type of offense does Western run?
We are running a Spread, but they also bringing it down to a tight end set to run some. And they have some trip formations.
When does summer ball with start up?
We’ve been practicing every day and we’ve been doing some 7v7.
Focusing on your technique as a tight end, what will you continue to work on the rest of the summer?
For the rest of the summer, I need to work on my speed. I will work on that as much as I can. Another thing I am focused on is losing a little bit of weight. I am always working on my hands with these big ol’ mitts. The goal is to keep getting better.
Tywon, it is always great catching up with you. I appreciate your time and wish you success integrating into the new offense and defense this summer at Western.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Mitchell family; Tywon Mitchell