Mitchell moves past UConn’s canceled season
Sophomore LB, Ridgefield native takes advantage of extra time to get stronger mentally, physically as well
The announcement came in early August 2020, ending weeks of worry and speculation.
The UConn football season was canceled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. UConn became the first FBS program to scrap the season, a jarring decision for players accustomed to competing each fall.
“It was pretty disappointing,” said Jackson Mitchell, a sophomore linebacker from Ridgefield. “Because we saw, as time went on, every other team was going to still continue on and play their season. But we knew we had to just trust the process and, like, it was the best choice for us, I think. So we just had to your mentality instead of being upset and mad about that we’re not playing, we had to take advantage of that time.”
For Mitchell, the loss of the season created room to grow — physically and mentally. There was added time in the weight room, results that translated to the practice field.
There was also more time devoted to the learning the playbook, understanding the college game and preparing
for Year 2 at UConn.
Year 1? That was a success for Mitchell, even if UConn lost 10 of 12 games.
Mitchell moved into the starting lineup midway through the 2019 season. He wound up leading the nation in tackles per game (6.5) among true freshman. He tallied 15 tackles against East Carolina and emerged as a playmaker.
But it was a process. “Playing as a freshman is difficult at times because your body’s not always developed enough to be playing against … guys who are like 22, 23 years old,” he said. “It’s kind of tough at times. I think this time off really gave me a chance to get bigger, stronger, to take
on those offensive linemen and things like that. But compared to where I was as a freshman, I completely understand the defense way better now. I’m able to stand in the middle and make calls, make checks, call things out as the play develops.”
Mitchell migrated to Storrs from Ridgefield after drawing interest from Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart, Fordham, Colgate, Villanova, Dartmouth, Towson and New Hampshire. He embraced the chance to play for his state school and he saw an opportunity to get on the field for a program in rebuilding mode.
And he did play. As he looks to the fall, he’ll be two years removed from that freshman season and physically stronger.
As a freshman, he was listed at 210 pounds. On the spring roster, his weight is 229.
“We all got in the weight room,” Mitchell said. “We started getting bigger, faster … Every day, pretty much. Even our off days we were getting it together. So I think (canceling the season) was disappointing at first but it’s also a good time for us to come together as a team and get better.”
Mitchell will also feel more confident in his understanding of the game when he returns in the fall. In fact, he has noticed the strides in spring practice.
“Understanding the defense is a huge part of football because it slows the game down,” he said. “As a freshman, things are moving kind of fast and it’s hard to see things on the fly, watch plays develop. But as you learn the defense … you learn the concept and you’re able to apply it to multiple different offensive concepts that you’re going to see, and multiple offenses that you’re going to play against. So it makes it a lot easier. It makes it easier to make plays, too, because I’m not sitting there thinking as the ball is snapped, ‘Oh, what do I gotta do now and then what I’m gonna do after that?’ I can just go and play.”