Californian Mitchell Took Long Route to Norman

MIAMI, Fla. -- If not for a technicality, Oklahoma linebacker Lance Mitchell might've been lining up against the Sooners in the Orange Bowl instead of for them.

Mitchell, the team's second-leading tackler, was ready to sign with Southern California in 2001 after USC recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron came to a game at City College of San Francisco and was impressed by what he saw.

"We loved Big Lance," Orgeron said. "I went and watched him play. We would have loved to have him. He would have been a great player."

The Trojans had a geographical advantage with the San Francisco native. "I grew up a big-time SC fan," Mitchell said.

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Mitchell said the only reason he didn't go to Southern California was that the school's academic restrictions on junior college transfers would have kept him from joining the Trojans until the next fall. Other schools could get him in for the spring.

Instead, Mitchell went to Florida, but soon found out he wouldn't be able to play there because of Southeastern Conference guidelines. That's when he called Oklahoma's coaches.

"It was a great surprise," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said.

Mitchell led the Sooners with 124 tackles in 2002 and, along with Teddy Lehman, was expected to lead one of the best linebacking corps in the nation in 2003.

But Mitchell tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Oklahoma's game against Fresno State and was out for the season. He received a medical redshirt and returned as the Sooners' most veteran linebacker this season.

"He had a huge impact," said Rufus Alexander, a sophomore who turned into a second-team all-Big 12 player. "He's a guy coming back with a whole lot of experience. He's a strong presence in the middle.

"He'll be that rock for you whenever you need him in the run game. He'll be that leader for you whenever your team is down."

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who recruited Mitchell, knows it easily could have turned out differently. "It's been a journey," he said. "We lucked out. He had to settle for Oklahoma. Good for him, better for us."

Mitchell had 72 tackles, two sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown in a productive senior season.

"I always kid him in front of other recruits and our players: 'I saved you. Look what I did for you. You tried to screw your life up,' because it's worked out well for him," Venables said. "There's a lot of neat things he can look back on in his experience and say that he more than got his share."

Mitchell figures he had nothing to lose.

"I couldn't have gone wrong with either choice, I guess," he said. "They've both been in the national championship the past two years."