Teradja Mitchell will finish his college football career in Gainesville.
The fifth-year senior Ohio State linebacker is transferring to Florida, where he will have one more season of eligibility.
100% COMMITTED
— Teradja Mitchell (@teeraaw__) January 3, 2023
Gator Nation, you will get my very all. Lets work pic.twitter.com/Dryg5HoIO4
Mitchell will be looking to earn a bigger role on Florida’s defense after playing only one defensive snap for Ohio State this year. By playing in only four regular-season games, Mitchell was able to take a redshirt this season, giving him a sixth year of eligibility to play one more year of college football in 2023.
He becomes the second Buckeye to transfer to Florida in as many years, joining former Ohio State quarterback Jack Miller, who will be competing for the Gators’ starting job next season after making his first career start in their Las Vegas Bowl loss to Oregon State.
Mitchell remained with the Buckeyes for the Peach Bowl and was on the field for all eight of Ohio State’s kickoffs, a role he was able to play while retaining his redshirt after the NCAA passed a blanket waiver allowing players to participate in postseason games this year without compromising their redshirt eligibility.
A team captain in 2021, when he began the year as a starting linebacker before sliding down the depth chart, Mitchell said last week that it was “very important” to him to remain with the Buckeyes for the CFP and “finish where I started” even though he entered the transfer portal in early December. And even though he decided it would be in his best interest to finish his collegiate career elsewhere, he leaves Columbus with high regard for Ohio State.
“I think this is one of the greatest universities in the world, some of the greatest coaches in the world,” Mitchell said at last week’s Peach Bowl media day. “I’m a Buckeye forever.”
