Career: Key reserve/spot starter at NU's superback position (hybrid fullback/tight end position) ... Played in 48 career games with four career starts ... His highlight-reel TD catches vs. Purdue (2008) and Minnesota (2009), along with his memorable two-point conversion grab in the Outback Bowl, rank at the top of his NU highlights.
2009: Played in all 13 games with two starts ... Reserve superback ... Scored his second career TD and caught a career-best four passes for 38 yards vs. Minnesota (came into his senior season with 34 career receiving yards) ... Touchdown came in the third quarter on a juggling catch in the corner of the end zone to give NU its first lead of the game ... Caught the game-tying 2-point conversion pass from Andrew Brewer with 1:15 to play in regulation of the Outback Bowl.
2008: Played in every game in 2008 at superback and on special teams ... Caught his first career TD pass against Purdue, a 1-yard pass from C.J. Bachér in the corner of the end zone in the third quarter ... Caught a 5-yard pass at Michigan.
2007: Team's starting superback ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Caught a 3-yard reception -- his first collegiate catch -- at Ohio State ... Career-long 25-yard reception vs. Eastern Michigan.
2006: Played primarily special teams ... Made his season debut vs. New Hampshire ... Named team's offensive practice player of the week vs. Wisconsin.
High School: SuperPrep All-Midwest Region tight end ... Ranked the 33rd-best tight end nationally by SuperPrep ... Also played defensive end for the Pioneers ... Totaled 17 receptions for 550 yards for a whopping 32.4 ypr ... Eight of his 17 receptions went for touchdowns ... Also registered 25 tackles, including 7 TFL's and 4.5 sacks on defense ... Tabbed the Pioneers' Receiver of the Year ... Akron Beacon-Journal all-defensive team ... Honorable mention all-state selection ... First-team all-region and all-county ... Team captain ... Helped the Pioneers, a prep school, go unbeaten in 2005 and win the Independent Preparatory School League (IPSL) title for the third time in four years ... Had multiple-TD games against Lake Forest (3), Linsly (2) and Culver (2) ... Totaled 100-plus receiving yards in all three games ... Also lettered in basketball and track ... Merit Roll student ... Coached by Pat Smith.
Personal: Born Brendan Kumar Mitchell ... Son of Shoba and Alan Mitchell ... Father played wide receiver at Michigan and in the NFL ... One of four NU student-athletes selected to participate in CASE's 2007-08 APPLE conferences, which promote student-athlete wellness and substance abuse prevention ... Communication studies major.
The Brendan Mitchell File
Q: Name a favorite song (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: "Money On My Mind" Lil' Wayne
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be?
A: Dave Chappelle
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: Be a leader
Q: A song that best describes you?
A: "Like a Boss" by Slim Thug
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: I'm a huge soccer fan
Q: My favorite place to visit is:
A: Thailand
Q: My favorite thing about NU is:
A: My friends
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: Playing against top teams week-in and week-out
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Crazy, Intense, Passionate
Q: Describe your position coach (Adam Cushing) in five words or less:
A: Fun, Smart, Energetic
Q: Most humbling experience:
A: Getting my block knocked off at practice
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
A: Graduating high school and moving on to Northwestern University
Q: The best book I have ever read is:
A: The Foot Book
Q: The person that inspires me the most is:
A: My family
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: Terrell Davis
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Listening to classical music on my iPod
Q: If you could have a starring role in any film already made, which movie would you pick?
A: Kill Bill vol. 1
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Pad Thai
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: We have a well-kept grass field
Q: Best thing about Northwestern is:
A: My friends
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be:
A: Me catching a ball with one hand, juking a linebacker, trucking a safety or cornerback and going 70 or more yards to the "house" to win the Rose Bowl
Q: My favorite television show is:
A: The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: At home playing video games
Q: The three words that best describe me:
A: Outgoing, Fun, Foolish
Q: My football-related superstition is:
A: Wash my hands before the game. The impurities need to be removed so there is nothing between my hand and the ball when it comes time to make a catch.
Mitchell's Career Stats
RECEIVING G Rec Yds TD Lg Rec/G Avg/C Avg/G2006................ 11 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.02007................ 12 2 28 0 25 0.2 14.0 2.32008................ 12 2 6 1 5 0.2 3.0 0.52009................ 13 4 38 1 13 0.3 9.5 2.9TOTAL............... 48 8 72 2 25 0.2 9.0 1.5
SCORING G TD Rush Pass Retn PAT 2PAT FG Total Avg/G2006................ 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.02007................ 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.02008................ 12 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 0.52009................ 13 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 8 0.6TOTAL............... 48 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 14 0.3
KICK RETURNS G No. Yds TD Lg Avg/R Avg/G2006................ 11 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.02007................ 12 1 0 0 0 0.0 0.02008................ 12 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.02009................ 13 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0TOTAL............... 48 1 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec PR KR IR Total Avg/G2006................ 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.02007................ 12 0 28 0 0 0 28 2.32008................ 12 0 6 0 0 0 6 0.52009................ 13 0 38 0 0 0 38 2.9TOTAL............... 48 0 72 0 0 0 72 1.5