| 7/19/2024 | Football VIEW FULL MAGAZINE When John Mitchell ’20 first stepped onto Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus, the then-18-year-old had a vision of where his life would go over the next 15 years. First, he’d tackle playing wide receiver for Florida Atlantic ‘s football team; next he would play professional football; and then he would become a doctor. There was no question in his mind about here he’d wind up, or whether he had the passion, drive or work ethic to see his vision to fruition. Mitchell attended Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, where he was recruited by then-Florida Atlantic Head Football Coach Charlie Partridge’s staff. He was a two-time MVP and recipient of the Offensive Pride of the Pack Award while playing under Garrett Jahn, head coach of Lawton Chiles’ football team, FAU alumnus and starting quarterback for the football team’s inaugural game in 2001. As a 6-foot-four-inch true freshman in 2016 Mitchell collected his first touchdown reception: a 33-yard strike from then-quarterback Jason Driskel that put the Owls up 14-7 at Rice University in Houston. Florida Atlantic went on to win the game 42-25. From there, Mitchell played two different positions – wide receiver and tight end – under three different head coaches. He was on two conference championship teams, played in three bowl games, tallied 873 receiving yards and scored 10 times in his six-year college career. This includes three scores in a 41-31 road win over Ball State that helped set the tone for the 2019 season, which ended with a conference championship and a blowout 52-28 win in the Boca Raton Bowl against Southern Methodist. Mitchell’s resolve was tested on multiple occasions, including twice when he suffered season-ending injuries in 207 and 2020. During each of those injuries, he made sure to observe the surgeons, pay attention during office visits and collaborate directly with the physical therapist, all while asking questions and doing his own research. “I am incredibly thankful for their guidance and teachings,” Mitchell said about the medical staff he met during his surgeries and the rehabilitation process. “I’m planning to apply for an orthopedic surgery residency program when the time comes.” Mitchell’s time at Florida Atlantic was not all about football. He also was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Through it all, he never lost focus on his original goals, graduating in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Mitchell returned to the field as a graduate student in 2021 for his final campaign and first full season after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a new position – tight end – and a new resolve, he continued to build his football resume in hopes of a shot at the NFL. That season, Mitchell collected multiple accolades, including his selection to the Conference USA Preseason All-Academic Watch List and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl “Preseason Big Board” list, as well a nominations for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award and the National football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy. He then signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 and concluded his professional career in the United State Football League. During his time as a graduate student, Mitchell befriended Charles Hennekens, M.D., Dr. P.H., Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in Florida Atlantic’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Hennekens embraced Mitchell as he had done with countless other students throughout his storied career, and the two began working toward Mitchell’s medical futures – and toward a newfound sport: pickleball.”He is an excellent mentor. He’s the type of person who genuinely wants to see you flourish and will do everything in his power to help you reach your full potential,” said Mitchell. “He’s brilliant, welcoming and not to mention a world-class pickleball player. He’s responsible for about 80-percent of my losses, no kidding. I’m happy to call him a mentor and a friend of mine.”The duo completed a research elective supervised by Hennekens that led to a collaborative manuscript titled “Emerging data in COVID-19 create urgent challengers for health providers: Updates on COVID-19 vaccine and Paxlovid.” It was published by Journal of the National Medical Association in January.”[Mitchell’s] grace in social settings invites authentic engagement and will serve him well with his fellow medical students and professors, as well as, perhaps most importantly, his patients,” Hennekens wrote in a letter of recommendation for Mitchell. After countless hours in labs, study groups and the academic center, the consistent dedication paid off and now the final destination is all but in reach. Mitchell was accepted to medical school at Howard University and the University of Florida, with plans to attend the latter in the fall. But first, the 26-year-old will follow in the footsteps of fellow Owl and football alumnus Tyler Cameron ’15 as a contestant on “The Bachelorette.” Mitchell will appear in Season 21 of the show, which will air in July on ABC.  |
