The Las Vegas Raiders are always looking for any way to possibly improve their roster, especially when it comes to finding guys to make the back end of the 53-man roster better, or even the practice squad, where only 16 guys are allowed. And, with one last preseason game left with it being against the San Francisco 49ers before they kick off 2024 against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Raiders would like to get some guys on the field for this game.
So, they signed a new linebacker -- two to be exact, after they signed former Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Dashaun White , and now former UConn linebacker Jackson Mitchell.
At UConn, he quickly became known for his defensive prowess. His career statistics are impressive, with him finishing his tenure at UConn third on the all-time list for total tackles with 438 over four seasons. His senior year in 2023 was particularly notable where he led the team with 113 tackles, averaging 9.4 tackles per game, which ranked him 19th in the FBS for tackles.
He was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award in 2022, which honors the best defensive player in college football, and was also recognized as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker.
After his college career, Mitchell signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Obviously, seeing how he is now in silver and black, that didn't work out. On Tuesday, the Raiders brought him into their open practice at Allegiant Stadium, where fans could watch for free. And, let's just say the new guy put on a show for Raider Nation.
According to Levi Edwards, Mitchell had an interception on the day, meaning he had one of the biggest plays. Now, nothing will top what Maxx Crosby did, but that's impressive for a new guy.
Now, this doesn't mean that Mitchell will make the roster or even the team, but it does show that he has great instincts and situational awareness. That's something that should help him out.
