LINCOLN — Tevin Mitchel had never played the sport before, but he and his buddy decided to make a friendly pact to join the high school football team, just to keep themselves occupied.

He was a freshman then.

Nearly three years later, the 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back has emerged as one of the nation's top prospects, possessing the kind of potential that attracts college coaches everywhere.

But it appears that Nebraska's staff will be the only one with the chance to help Mitchel continue to improve at this impressive rate. Mitchel made a verbal commitment to the Huskers on Tuesday, becoming the ninth member of the 2011 NU recruiting class.

“I've been thinking about it for a while now, for about the last three, four weeks,” Mitchel said. “I just really do think that the school will be good for me.”

Nebraska also added a 23rd member Wednesday to its 2010 class with Stanley Jean-Baptiste. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound receiver redshirted last season at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College after signing with Colorado in 2009.

He was a late qualifier out of Miami's Central High School and didn't make it through the NCAA Clearinghouse in time to enroll at CU. So he went to Fort Scott, teaming with fellow NU newcomers Jermarcus Hardrick and Lavonte David.

NU recruited Jean-Baptiste as a 2011 prospect until recently, he said.

“They told me about two weeks ago they wanted me for (2010),” he said. “I wasn't expecting it. I guess with another year over there, it can only help.”

He plans to arrive at Nebraska next month to start summer school and would have four years to play four seasons.

For Mitchel, playing football at the collegiate level is a bit of an unreal concept.

Mitchel moved to Mansfield, Texas, with his father, Eric, who played quarterback and running back for Oklahoma from 1985 to 1988.

Tevin Mitchel, though, hadn't put on pads until he and teammate Kendall Washington decided as freshmen that they'd join the Legacy High School football team. Mitchel played one season at receiver and another at running back before moving to the defensive side of the ball.

“It was kind of like, I'll play football if you play football,” Mitchel said. “I'd always wanted to play.”

Mitchel said he's collected about 18 scholarship offers since his junior season concluded, most after he participated in a couple of spring football camps in April. Arkansas, Boise State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame were among the schools interested.

But Mitchel liked Nebraska, for a lot of reasons, he said.

“The coaches there, I feel like I can always go to them if I need anything,” Mitchel said. “I've done a lot of research and it's a great atmosphere to play in. It's Nebraska. ... It's a great feeling.”

Mitchel is the 110th overall player on the Rivals250 national rankings. Mitchel will play safety at Legacy this fall, but said NU's recruiting him as a cornerback.

The Huskers have two other safeties who have said they plan to sign letters of intent in February. Junior college transfer Daimion Stafford and rising senior Aaryn Bouzos, both from California, made nonbinding pledges to NU last month.

World-Herald staff writer Mitch Sherman contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

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