University of Connecticut Athletics
Getting to Know the Freshmen: LB Jackson Mitchell
9/12/2019 12:00:00 PM | Football
Each week, we will profile a freshmen on the UConn football team. Check UConnHuskies.com throughout the season!
Freshman linebacker Jackson Mitchell didn't have to travel far to get to UConn. He is from Ridgefield, Connecticut, and he played his high-school football at Ridgefield High, where he was a star on both sides of the ball.
Mitchell was named to the USA Today All-USA Connecticut Team and the Walter Camp All-CT First Team, among other honors. He looks to make an impact on defense this year for the Huskies. We got to know him a little bit better through an interview last week.
Q: How big of a factor was being from Connecticut in your decision to come to UConn?
JM: It was a pretty big factor because it was close to home, and I've grown up watching them. I saw how good they were years ago, so I wanted to try and bring that back.
Q: What was your biggest motivation for coming here?
JM: Just the coaches really. They really showed love. Out of all the teams recruiting me, they were definitely the most into me and wanted me bad. So I decided to come here.
Q: What's your favorite thing about playing football at UConn so far?
JM: Probably the coaches and the experience they have. Like Coach [Lou Spanos, defensive coordinator], he has tons of experience in the NFL and college, so he's really helped me improve as a football player.
Q: What can you say about the atmosphere of the team?
JM: It's definitely a lot of energy, even from when I visited spring practices. There's even more energy now, and it's just really exciting to see because we're only going up from here.
Q: When you look back on your whole football career to this point, what stands out the most?
JM: Probably just making it as far as I've made it so far. I'm still not satisfied. I want to keep going, try to play and see what happens.
Q: What do you feel is the best part of your game?
JM: I think I just can learn on the run. I'm a freshman but I've gotten the playbook down. I've still got a ways to go, but I think I can learn, take coaching and apply it.
Q: What's one thing you really want to improve on?
JM: I think just playing linebacker as a whole because in high school, I didn't play the specific linebacker position. So I want to try to get my eyes better playing linebacker.
Q: What did you play in high school?
JM: I played everything. I played safety, our star position kind of. I played defensive end. I played receiver.
Q: How would you describe your first college football game experience?
JM: The atmosphere was a lot different than high school. It was really exciting. I was really hyped up to be out there, and I'm just ready for when my number's called.
Q: What is something you want the UConn fans to know about you?
JM: That I'm just going to give them everything I've got when I step on that field. It's going to be all for the team and all for the school.
Q: What's a personal goal for you this season?
JM: Definitely try to start some games maybe, see what happens. I just want to be ready, whether it's on special teams, playing defense or nickel. Whatever it is, I just want to be ready.
