JMU gets 4 star QB transfer, was USC starter 2015

[BDKJMU]

"Former USC QB Connor Mitch finds his landing spot
Former Gamecock headed to James Madison

Former South Carolina quarterback Connor Mitch graduated this summer and will transfer to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.

Mitch announced his intention to transfer in May. On Monday he announced his destination through Twitter.

Mitch has two years of eligibility remaining. James Madison is in the Colonial Athletic Association and is led by first-year coach Mike Houston, who led The Citadel to an upset win over the Gamecocks in 2015.

The Raleigh, N.C., native, one of the marquee offensive recruits of Steve Spurrier’s final years at South Carolina, was an honorable mention PARADE All-American who threw for more than 12,000 yards in his high school career.....

....Mitch, a 6-foot-4, 214-pound former four-star prospect, won last year’s preseason competition to be the starting quarterback but lasted only two games due to shoulder and hip injuries. He completed 13-of-29 passes for 165 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in his two starts and did not return the field the remainder of the season......"
http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/ ... 42012.html

[BDKJMU]

SC bio:
Junior quarterback who again finds himself in a battle to earn the No. 1 signal-caller duties for the Gamecocks in 2016... named the starting quarterback when the 2015 season began and got the call in the first two games before injuries derailed him for the rest of the season... one of three quarterbacks on the roster who has a win as a starting quarterback under his belt.

2015: Earned the starting quarterback duties during preseason camp... went 9-for-22 for 122 yards and a touchdown pass in his first career start against North Carolina... first career TD pass was a nine-yarder to Pharoh Cooper... also ran the ball 10 times for 44 yards despite suffering a painful hip pointer in the contest... ran for his first career touchdown and completed 4-of-7 passes for 43 yards against Kentucky before suffering a shoulder injury that took him out of the game... that injury, along with complications from the hip injury caused him to lose a significant amount of weight and was not able to regain the strength and form that earned him the top spot the depth chart... did not see any other action during the season... finished the season 13-for-29 for 165 yards passing with one touchdown and 51 yards on 14 carries and a score on the ground... shared Most Improved Quarterback in the spring accolades with Perry Orth.

2014: Played in two games as a redshirt freshman... connected on 2-of-6 passes for 19 yards in limited duty... completed 2-of-4 passes for 19 yards in first playing time of his career against Furman... attempted two passes against South Alabama... shared co-Freshman Most Improved honors for the offense in the spring with tight end Jacob August.

2013: Enrolled at Carolina in January 2013... took a redshirt in the fall.
http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m ... 41950.html

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/13079

[YoUDeeMan]

Brock says that you guys aren't doing it correctly.

The road to success is as follows: recruit a HS QB that doesn't complete a high percentage of his passes, then dumb down an offense so much that you run consistently on 2nd and 3rd and long, even when down by two or more scores in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Then, after you finish last in passing in the entire subdivision, while completing one of the worst offensive seasons in your school's history, you DO NOT bring in some fancy shmancy 4 star QB. Nope, you stay put.

You guys are going to look pretty silly this year when you face a team that does things the right way.

[BDKJMU]

Brock says that you guys aren't doing it correctly.

The road to success is as follows: recruit a HS QB that doesn't complete a high percentage of his passes, then dumb down an offense so much that you run consistently on 2nd and 3rd and long, even when down by two or more scores in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Then, after you finish last in passing in the entire subdivision, while completing one of the worst offensive seasons in your school's history, you DO NOT bring in some fancy shmancy 4 star QB. Nope, you stay put.

You guys are going to look pretty silly this year when you face a team that does things the right way.

Is Delaware still sticking with their urban QB?

[BDKJMU]

Basically JMU had a couple of ins in getting Mitchell:
-Mitchell's older brother coached under Houston
-JMU's new OC, formerly on the staff at ECU, recruited Mitchell in HS
-Didn't want to sit another year which he would have had to do to go to one of the several G5 & P5 that showed interest.

Article in the Harrisonburg paper:

".......Bob Mitch said his son, who announced his intention to transfer in May, was also pursued by Pittsburgh, Michigan, Arkansas, Colorado and Coastal Carolina.

“I don’t think he wanted to sit another year,” Rodney Sink, Connor Mitch’s coach at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, N.C., said this week. “I don’t think it mattered if he was going from a bowl champion to a championship series program. I think he was just trying to find a good fit for him. Some people get hung up; they’ve got to be in SEC, they’ve got to be this. I don’t think that was in his thought process.”

Before deciding on South Carolina in high school, Connor Mitch strongly considered East Carolina, his father said. From 2005-15, Dukes offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Donnie Kirkpatrick was on ECU’s staff, primarily as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.

“Now, you’ve got the ECU offense in there. He loves the offense,” Bob Mitch said of his son. “Now he’s not going to be a Vad Lee that’s going to rush the ball for 250 yards a game, but he’s very athletic and looking forward to playing in this system.”

The quarterback made the visit to JMU with his older brother, Ryan Mitch – a former Maryland quarterback and student assistant for Division II Lenoir-Rhyne in 2011 under Houston, his father said.

“My older son said if there’s ever a coach he’d run through a wall for, it’s coach Houston,” Bob Mitch said. “That’s what Connor was looking for after the situation down in South Carolina.”....."

[GannonFan]

I still think USC refers to Southern Cal and not that team from South Carolina, no matter how much they try to steal the abbreviation.

[BDKJMU]

I still think USC refers to Southern Cal and not that team from South Carolina, no matter how much they try to steal the abbreviation.

Well, I don't really care either way. But FWIW:
-The South Carolina USC became the Univ of South Carolina in 1865.
-Univ of Southern California was founded in 1880.

[89Hen]

I still think USC refers to Southern Cal and not that team from South Carolina, no matter how much they try to steal the abbreviation.

Well, I don't really care either way. But FWIW:
-The South Carolina USC became the Univ of South Carolina in 1865.
-Univ of Southern California was founded in 1880.

Not worth much. To 49 states:

USC = University of Southern California
Carolina = University of North Carolina

South Carolina has a major inferiority complex.

[GannonFan]

Well, I don't really care either way. But FWIW:
-The South Carolina USC became the Univ of South Carolina in 1865.
-Univ of Southern California was founded in 1880.

Not worth much. To 49 states:

USC = University of Southern California
Carolina = University of North Carolina

South Carolina has a major inferiority complex.

Agreed. In a college football context, or college sports even, USC is in California. The South Carolina football team hasn't been good enough long enough to warrant trying to steal that moniker back from the program that really ingrained it in the minds of sports fans around the nation.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Well, I don't really care either way. But FWIW:
-The South Carolina USC became the Univ of South Carolina in 1865.
-Univ of Southern California was founded in 1880.

Not worth much. To 49 states:

USC = University of Southern California
Carolina = University of North Carolina

South Carolina has a major inferiority complex.

Agreed.

They should change the name of the school. It might help them find their own identity and shake that inferiority complex.

The SCU Gamecocks has a nice ring to it.

[bucs90]

I still think USC refers to Southern Cal and not that team from South Carolina, no matter how much they try to steal the abbreviation.

South Carolina beat Southern California last meeting so they get to use USC haha.

As for Mitch...I'm a USC fan. He's a good kid. But beware. He looked like a deer with lions eyeing him on the field. Very skittish. That's what kept him from living up to the 4 star potential in Columbia. Just never looked comfortable with defenders coming at him.

[GannonFan]

I still think USC refers to Southern Cal and not that team from South Carolina, no matter how much they try to steal the abbreviation.

South Carolina beat Southern California last meeting so they get to use USC haha.

All that did was make up for the time that USC beat S Carolina.

I did come across this website http://www.winsipedia.com/usc/vs/south-carolina when looking up the records. Pretty cool. The comparisons at the bottom pretty much show why USC is in California and South Carolina is in, well, South Carolina.

[BDKJMU]

Well, I don't really care either way. But FWIW:
-The South Carolina USC became the Univ of South Carolina in 1865.
-Univ of Southern California was founded in 1880.

Not worth much. To 49 states:

USC = University of Southern California
Carolina = University of North Carolina

South Carolina has a major inferiority complex.

True except for I'd say about 40 states. In the heart of SEC country, a lot of people whose SEC teams are always playing, and being covered in the media, playing the east coast USC, when hearing/seeing USC, might think the east one one or at least pause and ask which one.

If you're a big fan of (insert your SEC school here) whose school regularly plays South Carolina (and never plays S California) and you hear we're playing "Carolina" or "USC" you're probably going to think South Carolina...

[CID1990]

I still think USC refers to Southern Cal and not that team from South Carolina, no matter how much they try to steal the abbreviation.

Well, I don't really care either way. But FWIW:
-The South Carolina USC became the Univ of South Carolina in 1865.
-Univ of Southern California was founded in 1880.

And it wasn't actually a college until 1901. From 1880-1901 it was a Mexican brothel with a taco stand attached.

[GannonFan]

Not worth much. To 49 states:

USC = University of Southern California
Carolina = University of North Carolina

South Carolina has a major inferiority complex.

True except for I'd say about 40 states. In the heart of SEC country, a lot of people whose SEC teams are always playing, and being covered in the media, playing the east coast USC, when hearing/seeing USC, might think the east one one or at least pause and ask which one.

If you're a big fan of (insert your SEC school here) whose school regularly plays South Carolina (and never plays S California) and you hear we're playing "Carolina" or "USC" you're probably going to think South Carolina...

So what does that prove other than, outside of maybe Tennessee, the rest of the SEC routinely plays weak OOC schedules and very rarely, if ever, ventures out of SEC territory?

[bjtheflamesfan]

Ive said this before, and it bears repeating when it comes to FBS transfers...keep measured expectations. This Mitch kid could become an All-American, he could be a solid QB, or he could be a total bomb...we don't know.

Also, the number of stars really doesn't amount to much once you get to college so saying you got a 4 star WB or 3 star CB or 5 star DT really doesn't make the transfer any more or less impressive.

[bandl]

could become an All-American, he could be a solid QB, or he could be a total bomb...we don't know.

[BlackFalkin]

USC is Southern Cal - Kill yourself

[BDKJMU]

Ive said this before, and it bears repeating when it comes to FBS transfers...keep measured expectations. This Mitch kid could become an All-American, he could be a solid QB, or he could be a total bomb...we don't know.

Also, the number of stars really doesn't amount to much once you get to college so saying you got a 4 star WB or 3 star CB or 5 star DT really doesn't make the transfer any more or less impressive.

Big difference between being a starter at an SEC school (at one point) coached by Steve Spurrier, and say being a backup at a G5, or 3rd-4th string at an ACC school. I'll wager IF he stays healthy he'll be the starting JMU QB for 2 seasons and at least All CAA.

This is only the 3rd time (ever?) that JMU has gotten a 2 deep P5 QB transfer, and only the 2nd time other than Vad Lee that have gotten a starter.
-Justin Rascati in 03' as a rFr at Louisville backed up then Jr Stefan Lefors (future NFL & CFL). Jan 04' L'ville signed Brian Brohm, the Gatorade and USA Today National HS POTY. Brohm was even on the cover of SI and went on to a huge career at L'ville & in the NFL. Rascati saw the writing on the wall and transfered to JMU. Became a 3 year starter, made All A-10/CAA all 3 seasons, at least 1 season made All American, led JMU to a national championship win.
-Vad Lee in 14'.

The only way this kid will be a bomb is if he has health issues...

[bandl]

The only way this kid will be a bomb is if he has health issues...

Or if he just plain sucks...

[93henfan]

Anything less than an FCS championship game appearance, first round NFL draft selection, winning NFL rookie of the year, winning a Super Bowl, and winning Super Bowl MVP would be a disappointment in my humble opinion.

[kalm]

Ive said this before, and it bears repeating when it comes to FBS transfers...keep measured expectations. This Mitch kid could become an All-American, he could be a solid QB, or he could be a total bomb...we don't know.

Also, the number of stars really doesn't amount to much once you get to college so saying you got a 4 star WB or 3 star CB or 5 star DT really doesn't make the transfer any more or less impressive.

Big difference between being a starter at an SEC school (at one point) coached by Steve Spurrier, and say being a backup at a G5, or 3rd-4th string at an ACC school. I'll wager IF he stays healthy he'll be the starting JMU QB for 2 seasons and at least All CAA.

This is only the 3rd time (ever?) that JMU has gotten a 2 deep P5 QB transfer, and only the 2nd time other than Vad Lee that have gotten a starter.
-Justin Rascati in 03' as a rFr at Louisville backed up then Jr Stefan Lefors (future NFL & CFL). Jan 04' L'ville signed Brian Brohm, the Gatorade and USA Today National HS POTY. Brohm was even on the cover of SI and went on to a huge career at L'ville & in the NFL. Rascati saw the writing on the wall and transfered to JMU. Became a 3 year starter, made All A-10/CAA all 3 seasons, at least 1 season made All American, led JMU to a national championship win.
-Vad Lee in 14'.

The only way this kid will be a bomb is if he has health issues...

Bo Levi Mitchell and Kyle Padron were both starters in June Jones offense at SMU. One ended up winning the Payton, the other got beat out by a RS freshman.

No such thing as a lock.

[kalm]

Anything less than an FCS championship game appearance, first round NFL draft selection, winning NFL rookie of the year, winning a Super Bowl, and winning Super Bowl MVP would be a disappointment in my humble opinion.

Totally agree.

[bandl]

Anything less than an FCS championship game appearance, first round NFL draft selection, winning NFL rookie of the year, winning a Super Bowl, and winning Super Bowl MVP would be a disappointment in my humble opinion.

Totally agree.

Ditto

[BDKJMU]

Big difference between being a starter at an SEC school (at one point) coached by Steve Spurrier, and say being a backup at a G5, or 3rd-4th string at an ACC school. I'll wager IF he stays healthy he'll be the starting JMU QB for 2 seasons and at least All CAA.

This is only the 3rd time (ever?) that JMU has gotten a 2 deep P5 QB transfer, and only the 2nd time other than Vad Lee that have gotten a starter.
-Justin Rascati in 03' as a rFr at Louisville backed up then Jr Stefan Lefors (future NFL & CFL). Jan 04' L'ville signed Brian Brohm, the Gatorade and USA Today National HS POTY. Brohm was even on the cover of SI and went on to a huge career at L'ville & in the NFL. Rascati saw the writing on the wall and transfered to JMU. Became a 3 year starter, made All A-10/CAA all 3 seasons, at least 1 season made All American, led JMU to a national championship win.
-Vad Lee in 14'.

The only way this kid will be a bomb is if he has health issues...

Bo Levi Mitchell and Kyle Padron were both starters in June Jones offense at SMU. One ended up winning the Payton, the other got beat out by a RS freshman.

No such thing as a lock.

SMU (bad G5 program - 6+ seasons under Jones- had a losing record as HC) compared to a good SEC program (Spurrier 1 losing season in 11 seasons)= apples to oranges.