2016 ATH gaining serious interest

As the recruiting process continues to speed up more and more young prospects are getting attention from major college football programs. 2016 athlete Ahmir Mitchell had a little help from his brother, 2013 Arkansas commit Damon Mitchell, but it was only a matter of time before the younger Mitchell saw BCS coaches come calling.

"I am being recruited by Rutgers, Temple, Penn State and, of course, Arkansas," said the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Mitchell.

"Rutgers has been around me since they started recruiting my brother," he said. "It's the hometown school. They were telling me how impressed they were when they saw me. I'm not sure when I'll get an offer from Rutgers. I was supposed to get an offer at a camp earlier this offseason but I couldn't get a ride.

"The new coaching staff at Temple is very strong and they are close to home," Mitchell said. "They are very loyal. They were in touch with my brother all the way through his recruitment. They were telling him good luck with whatever choice he made and this was when he was switching to Arkansas. That loyalty will play a big role in my recruitment."

When the time comes to make a choice about which school to attend, Mitchell admitted it will be tough to not go with his brother to Arkansas.

"There isn't pressure to go to Arkansas but there is that pull," he said. "The coaches know my family and me and that's always a plus. It's something I will consider."

Mitchell gained invaluable experience watching his brother's recruitment unfold.

"After watching everything my brother went through, I learned that I have to keep my options open," he said. "I will watch which schools will always be there for me and will continue to act the same towards me all the way through."

Listed as an athlete, Mitchell could play on either side of the ball.

"I like to play wide receiver because I think I'm a little better there but there's something about defense that I love," Mitchell said. "I like that feeling of trying to beat the person in front of you. It's a lot more aggressive on defense and it's very different then the offense. I could definitely see myself going to any college to play wide receiver. That would be where I look first. If some offer me for defense and some offer me for offense I will look at both."

Mitchell was one of the top performers at the Rutgers Passing Camp earlier this offseason.