Shirdonya Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Shirdonya Chablis Mitchell (born May 16, 1982 in Dallas, Texas
) is an American football
cornerback
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
at Missouri
.
Mitchell has also been a member of the Detroit Lions
and Tennessee Titans
.
in Arlington, Texas
, where he was a first-team 5A All-State selection as a wide receiver
. He also lettered in basketball
and track
.
Mitchell also served as a return man throughout his career. He averaged 22.9 on 49 kickoffs returns, including a 24.1-yard norm as both a sophomore and junior. He also fielded three punts for a 7.7-yard average in his career. He played in the Gridiron Classic
All-Star Game following his senior season.
. On March 10, 2005 Mitchell reportedly pulled up with a sprained knee during his Pro Day. Further tests revealed he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
. He had previously run the 40-yard dash in 4.29 and 4.34 times.
Due to the injury and the long rehabilitation process that follows, Mitchell was not selected in the 2005 NFL Draft
. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent
on April 26. He spent the entire season on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List recovering from his injury.
Mitchell was able to participate in training camp in 2006, but was waived prior to the regular season on September 2. He spent the team's first 15 games of the regular season on the practice squad. On December 27, Mitchell was promoted to the active roster when cornerbacks Andre' Goodman
and Eddie Jackson were placed on Injured Reserve. He appeared in the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts
, registering one tackle.
On February 24, 2007 Mitchell was assigned to the Frankfurt Galaxy
of NFL Europa. In nine starts for the Galaxy, Mitchell recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions (including one returned 81 yards for a touchdown) and nine passes defensed. He was selected to the All-NFL Europa team. However, he was released by the team during the preseason.
on December 19. He was released just two days later.
. He was waived by the team on July 18.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
.
Mitchell has also been a member of the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
.
Early years
Mitchell attended Sam Houston High SchoolSam Houston High School (Arlington, Texas)
Sam Houston High School is a secondary school serving grades 9-12 students who live in the eastern part of Arlington, Texas and the western part of Grand Prairie, Texas. It is part of the Arlington Independent School District, in Arlington, Texas...
in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, where he was a first-team 5A All-State selection as a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He also lettered in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
College career
After being redshirted in 2000, Mitchell was a four-year letterman at Missouri from 2001 to 2004. He played wide receiver his first two years with the Tigers before being moved to cornerback for his junior season of 2003. He totaled eight receptions for 53 yards over his first two seasons. In his two years as a cornerback, he registered 57 tackles, five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a forced fumble. As a senior, he notched 39 tackles and a team-high four interceptions.Mitchell also served as a return man throughout his career. He averaged 22.9 on 49 kickoffs returns, including a 24.1-yard norm as both a sophomore and junior. He also fielded three punts for a 7.7-yard average in his career. He played in the Gridiron Classic
Gridiron Classic
The Gridiron Classic was the name given to a college football game played between teams from the Pioneer Football League and Northeast Conference at the end of the 2006-2009 seasons...
All-Star Game following his senior season.
Miami Dolphins
Upon the conclusion of his collegiate career, Mitchell was not invited to the NFL CombineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
. On March 10, 2005 Mitchell reportedly pulled up with a sprained knee during his Pro Day. Further tests revealed he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
. He had previously run the 40-yard dash in 4.29 and 4.34 times.
Due to the injury and the long rehabilitation process that follows, Mitchell was not selected in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on April 26. He spent the entire season on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List recovering from his injury.
Mitchell was able to participate in training camp in 2006, but was waived prior to the regular season on September 2. He spent the team's first 15 games of the regular season on the practice squad. On December 27, Mitchell was promoted to the active roster when cornerbacks Andre' Goodman
Andre' Goodman
André Goodman is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round 3rd pick of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina...
and Eddie Jackson were placed on Injured Reserve. He appeared in the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, registering one tackle.
On February 24, 2007 Mitchell was assigned to the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
of NFL Europa. In nine starts for the Galaxy, Mitchell recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions (including one returned 81 yards for a touchdown) and nine passes defensed. He was selected to the All-NFL Europa team. However, he was released by the team during the preseason.
Detroit Lions
Mitchell remained unsigned for the majority of the 2007 season, until he was signed to the practice squad of the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on December 19. He was released just two days later.
Tennessee Titans
On January 5, 2008, Mitchell was signed to a future contract by the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. He was waived by the team on July 18.