Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is among the best cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. NFL scouts have flocked to the MAC to watch Mitchell perform this fall. The Williston, Florida native hasn't disappointed. Mitchell has been a shutdown corner throughout the season. An absolute ballhawk, Mitchell has recorded one interception and 14 pass breakups thus far.
Mitchell recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about what he offers as a cornerback prospect, how he approaches different receivers, playing man and zone coverage, and why playing in Toledo’s defense has prepared him for the next level.
JM: You led the nation in passes defensed last season with 25. You had a bunch this season too. What is it about your game that allows you to get your hands on the ball so often?
Quinyon Mitchell: I would point to my film study first and foremost. I often know what’s coming before it comes. Film study plays a huge role in my success. I try to be technically sound on a snap-by-snap basis.
JM: What are some tells you look for on film?
Quinyon Mitchell: I pay close attention to things like down and distance. I pay attention to offensive formations, their splits, things of that nature. What I see pre-snap, what I’m reading pre-snap, it often comes to fruition post-snap.
JM: This Toledo defense has put forth multiple draft picks in recent years. Desjuan Johnson was the last pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2022, a pair of your ex-teammates in the secondary got drafted in Tycen Anderson and Samuel Womack. What did you learn from playing with those guys?
Quinyon Mitchell: Those guys taught me a lot about the process. Each of those guys was in a different situation, so there were different teaching points to be learned. They all got to where they are now for different reasons. I look at them and try to learn from them. They taught me how to be a pro. They taught me how to take care of my body. They taught me how to practice hard every single day. I could go on and on. I basically learned everything from those guys.
JM: They paved the way. Toledo likes to mix man and zone coverages. You’ve been exposed to both. Talk to me about gaining that experience.
Quinyon Mitchell: I can do a little bit of everything. Every week, it’s something different. Every game plan is crafted based on the opponent. We throw something different at them every week. I can play man, zone. It doesn’t really matter. I just want to cover.
JM: Do you have a preference?
Quinyon Mitchell: Man coverage. It’s me versus you. I love that one-on-one mindset. That’s what I like.
JM: I'll put you in a scenario then. Say it's 3rd-and-long with the game on the line. Would you prefer to be manned up on the opponent's best pass catcher, or playing zone with a chance to make a play on something near the sticks?
Quinyon Mitchell: Cover 0. Let’s be aggressive. It’s me versus you. Like I said, I love man coverage. It’s man coverage, one-on-one.
JM: That’s a bold call. As a follow-up, how has playing in this defense helped prepare you for the next level?
Quinyon Mitchell: The coaching staff puts a lot on our plate. They trust us in the secondary. We handle our responsibilities well. They throw a lot at us. We’re always prepared. One thing about our back end is that we communicate. We’re always on the same page. That helps me, and the rest of the guys in our secondary.
JM: How important is that communication on the back end?
Quinyon Mitchell: It’s extremely important. Communication is the heart and soul of our defense. That’s the honest truth. Everybody has to be on the same page in the secondary. You have to know what’s going on. You can’t be lost out there. That’s the heart and soul of our defense. Our defensive coordinator, our secondary coaches, they’re always preaching communication. When we’re all on the same page, we’re one of the most dangerous secondaries in the nation.
JM: Which cornerbacks do you enjoy studying? Do you model your game after anybody in particular?
Quinyon Mitchell: I watch a lot of cornerbacks to be honest with you. I can’t even mention anybody. I watch corners in college, too, not just the NFL. I even watch some cornerbacks that are retired nowadays. I’m a film geek. I wouldn’t say I model my game after anybody, though. I do like watching corners at every level, however. The level doesn’t even matter. I love studying guys and watching how they play.
JM: You have good size for the position. You’re listed at 6-foot, 196 pounds. How do you use your size to your advantage on a snap-by-snap basis?
Quinyon Mitchell: I especially try to use size to my advantage in the run game. It helps me when I’m attacking downhill. It helps me deep down the field as well in those contested catch situations. I can knock the ball out of a receiver’s hands at the catch point. I can use my body to get me in great positions.
