Bret Bielema Announces Exiting Razorback Football Players

 

The word is the Arkansas Razorback football team is set to lose four players today. Bret Bielema indicated in his post-spring season meetings with the press that Austin Flynn and Defonta Lowe would not be back with the team. You can read Bielema’s comments here and here.

News out today is Razorback quarterback Brandon Mitchell and wide receiver Keante Minor will also be transferring.

The following statement is from University of Arkansas football head coach Bret Bielema:

“After concluding post-spring meetings with every member of our team, Austin Flynn, Defonta Lowe, Keante Minor and Brandon Mitchell have been granted their release from the University of Arkansas football program. Through meetings with these student-athletes, a determination was made that it would be mutually beneficial for them to pursue their goals elsewhere. Brandon is on track to earn his degree this summer and utilize the NCAA graduate transfer exception to play immediately this fall. We fully support them and wish them all the best moving forward.”

Brandon Mitchell posted the following on his Facebook account:

“Today is a bitter sweet day for my family and I. I’m grateful for the opportunity that Arkansas has given me over the last four years. We became a family and had great moments as well as tough times. I’ve learned a lot about myself and realize that sometimes things and circumstances change. At this time I’d like to say thank you dearly to all of my fans & The Razorback Nation for all of your support, professionalism, and prayers. I leave behind some of the BEST MEN I have ever known in my Razorback teammates. I could have never asked to play with a better group of guys! I will truly miss the relationships and brotherhood I have personally and collectively as a team with each and everyone of you! I’m beginning a new journey and looking forward to seeing where It leads me. God is and has always been in control of my life. All things work together for the good of them who love The Lord. I also would like to thank my entire family for always supporting me in every aspect of my life! Without you all none of this would have ever been possible! My parents Bobby & Margaret Mitchell, my brother& sister Kedrien and Keshia along with my grandparents, have all help me make this tough decision to leave a great organization, school, and family behind and further my academic as well as my football career at another prestigious institution. Again I want to say thank you to all the Razorback Nation for helping me become the young man I am today. I wish nothing but the best for the University of Arkansas and I appreciate their professionalism throughout this entire process. God Bless!”

Bret Bielema posted to Twitter earlier:

[tweet https://twitter.com/BretBielema/status/331462319232126977]

And:

[tweet https://twitter.com/BretBielema/status/331463002652020736] [tweet https://twitter.com/Arkansas_Logo/status/331507781867810817]

Brandon Mitchell Bio (courtesy UA Athletics Department)

Razorback Quarterback Brandon Mitchell

Razorback Quarterback Brandon Mitchell leaving the team for other opportunities.

 

CAREER SUMMARY: Mitchell has appeared in 21 games with three starts. He has caught 17 passes for 272 yards, is 25-of-43 passing for 332 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed 23 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns. He moved to receiver from quarterback prior to the 2012 season.

2012: Mitchell played in eight games and made three starts in his first season at wide receiver. He caught 17 passes for 272 yards, rushed six times for 18 yards and was 2-of-8 passing for 45 yards and one touchdown. He hauled in four receptions for a career-high 122 yards, including a career-long 40 yarder, in the season-opening 49-24 win vs. Jacksonville State. He rushed six times for 18 yards, caught one five-yard pass and completed one 19-yard pass vs. No. 1 Alabama. He caught four passes for 42 yards vs. Rutgers and made four catches again the next week totaling 33 yards at Texas A&M. He was 1-of-1 passing for 26 yards and one touchdown in a 24-7 win at Auburn. He caught two passes for 55 yards in the 49-7 victory vs. Kentucky. After missing the next four games, he returned to make two catches for 15 yards vs. No. 8 LSU.

2011: He saw action in nine games and was 22-of-32 passing for 271 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and rushed 15 times for 58 yards and two touchdowns. He completed a career-high 10 passes on 11 attempts for 104 yards and one touchdown and rushed three times for five yards in the season-opening 51-7 win vs. Missouri State. The next week, he attempted a career-high 13 passes and completed eight for a career-high 114 yards, including a career-long 54 yarder, and one touchdown while rushing five times for a career-high 59 yards and one touchdown in a 52-3 victory vs. New Mexico. He rushed one time but did not attempt any passes in the 38-28 win vs. Troy. At No. 3 Alabama, he was 2-of-5 passing for 24 yards and rushed three times. He rushed one time for a four-yard touchdown in the 31-28 victory at Vanderbilt. He attempted one pass in a 44-28 win vs. No. 10 South Carolina. He was 1-of-1 passing for 21 yards in the 49-7 win vs. Tennessee and 1-of-1 passing for eight yards with one seven-yard rush in the 44-17 victory vs. Mississippi State. At No. 1 LSU, he rushed one time and did not record a pass attempt.

2010: He appeared in four games for the Razorbacks. In the season-opening 44-3 win vs. Tennessee Tech, Mitchell was 1-for-3 passing for 16 yards and also rushed twice with a long run of five yards. He saw action in the final three games of the season, at No. 22 Mississippi State, vs. No. 6 LSU and the Allstate Sugar Bowl vs. No. 6 Ohio State, as part of Arkansas’ kickoff coverage and kickoff return units.

2009: He redshirted and practiced with the scout team.

HIGH SCHOOL: He was 101-of-150 for 1,888 yards and had 25 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions as a senior at Amite High School for coach Alden Foster. Rivals.com listed him as the No. 53 athlete in the country and Scout.com ranked him as the No. 80 quarterback. He also rushed 98 times for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a junior, he threw for more than 2,500 yards and 27 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Mitchell, who had a 42-inch vertical leap, also played basketball and averaged 25 points and eight rebounds a game. He was ranked the No. 53 best athlete nationally by Rivals.com. He chose Arkansas over LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State and Tulsa.

PERSONAL: Born Jan. 18, 1991, he is the son of Bobby and Margaret Mitchell. He is majoring in recreation and sport management.

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