Brandon Mitchell Update

UPDATE on Brandon Mitchell 10/11/13

Looks like former Razorback and current NC State Wolfpack quarterback, Brandon Mitchell, may be back sooner than anyone could have imagined after sustaining a broken foot in the first game of the season.

The Charlotte Observer reports this morning:

State quarterback Brandon Mitchell impressed coach Dave Doeren in practice on Thursday.

Mitchell, who has missed the past four games with a broken foot, worked out pain-free on Thursday and will be a game-time decision for Saturday’s home game against Syracuse.

“He got better all week,” Doeren said. “We’ve made a lot of progress and we’ll see what the next 48 hours bring us.”

Mitchell, a graduate transfer from Arkansas, won the starting job in August and led the Wolfpack offense to touchdowns on the first two drives of the season in a 40-14 win against Louisiana Tech on Aug. 31.

Mitchell broke a bone in his left foot in the first half of the opener and was sidelined until he returned to practice Sunday. Doeren said Mitchell ran for about 20 to 25 minutes on Thursday without pain.

“His mobility (Thursday) was the best we’ve seen so far,” Doeren said. “He’s close. I’ve got to see him on gameday.”

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The Associated Press reported this on Mitchell:

North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren says injured starting quarterback Brandon Mitchell has been cleared to “start moving around without a boot on.”

Doeren on Monday described his status as day-to-day and says it depends on how quickly he can progress.

The graduate transfer from Arkansas began the season as the starter but has been out since breaking a bone in his left foot Aug. 31 during the opener against Louisiana Tech.

Doeren previously said there was “hope” he could play this week against Syracuse. The first-year coach says Mitchell dropped back and threw in cleats Sunday “and looked real good doing it.” Doeren says that “as soon as the doctors say he’s safe to play and it looks like he’s got the rust off, we’ll get him out there.”

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The Charlotte Observer takes a look at the quarterback situation at N.C. State this fall, including an analysis of where former Razorback back-up quarterback Brandon Mitchell may fit in with his new team. You may recall Mitchell announced shortly after spring practices he would transfer to N.C. State once he graduated from the University of Arkansas this summer.

Mitchell has one year of eligibility remaining and because he is transferring after graduation, will be able to play immediately for the Wolfpack and head coach Dave Doeren.

Doeren can’t talk about Mitchell, who played receiver last season for the Razorbacks, until he enrolls at N.C. State. Doeren has already made it clear, though, he prefers a quarterback with mobility, which is not the strong suit of either (Pete) Thomas or (Manny) Stocker.

“Ideally, you want a quarterback who can run and throw,” Doeren said. “I like a guy with mobility that can get out of trouble and keep a defense honest in the read option.”

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ESPN analyst Rod Gilmore, who worked several of Doeren’s games at NIU, wouldn’t be surprised if Mitchell wins the job.

“If he can pick up the playbook, my guess is he will be the guy,” Gilmore said of Mitchell. “You have to understand where Doeren is coming from. His expertise is on defense and he understands what gives a defense problems.