Lydell Mitchell

Mitchell playing for the Chargers in 1979
No. 26, 22
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1949-05-30) May 30, 1949 (age 74) Salem, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Salem (NJ)
College:	Penn State (1969-1971)
NFL draft:	1972 / Round: 2 / Pick: 48
Career history
Baltimore Colts ( 1972– 1977) San Diego Chargers ( 1978– 1979) Los Angeles Rams ( 1980)
Career highlights and awards
2× Second-team All-Pro ( 1976, 1977) 3× Pro Bowl ( 1975– 1977) 2× NFL receptions leader (1974, 1977) First-team All-American ( 1971)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 6,534 Average: 3.9 Touchdowns: 30
Player stats at NFL.com ·  PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Lydell Douglas Mitchell (born May 30, 1949) is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1972 to 1980. During his nine-season NFL career, Mitchell played for the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Penn State.

Early years

Lydell Mitchell was born on May 30, 1949, in Salem, New Jersey. Mitchell attended Salem High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. ^[1]

On the Salem football team, Mitchell earned All-South Jersey honors as a sophomore. ^[2] As a junior, Mitchell was injured in the middle of the season, but still managed to earn an All-South Jersey team honorable mention. ^[3] In his senior season, Mitchell again earned All-South Jersey honors as a member of the Third Team. ^[4]

Mitchell earned a football scholarship to play at Penn State following his high school career.

College career

Mitchell played college football at Penn State, where he and future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris joined Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions following a 1969 undefeated season. As a freshman, Mitchell led the Penn State freshman squad in rushing and scoring. His first two years at Penn State were productive, and he and Harris formed a formidible rushing attack. Mitchell's senior season was one of the best in school history, and he set several Penn State and NCAA records.

Mitchell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. ^[5]

1969 season

As a sophomore, Mitchell had an immediate impact. He and Franco Harris joined the varsity squad, and contributed to Penn State's second consecutive undefeated 11-0 season. The Nittany Lions finished at #2 in the AP poll, and earned a spot in the 1970 Orange Bowl where they defeated #6 Missouri 10-3. Mitchell recorded a 28-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Chuck Burkhart in the Orange Bowl victory. ^[6] Mitchell split time at running back with Harris and senior Charlie Pittman, but still recorded 113 carries for 616 yards and six touchdowns on the season. ^[7]

1970 season

In 1970, Mitchell and Harris continued to post productive seasons. Penn State opened the year ranked at #7 in the AP poll and earned a season opening victory against Navy, 55-7. In the Navy game, Mitchell recorded 19 carries for 145 yards. ^[8] The next two weeks, Penn State suffered upsets at the hands of #18 Colorado and Wisconsin to fall out of the top-25 rankings. Mitchell suffered a leg injury the following week against Boston College, which forced him to miss the Nittany Lions' loss to Syracuse. ^[9] Penn State won their remaining five games of the season, finishing with a 7-3 record and a #20 ranking in the AP poll. Mitchell finished the season with 134 carries for 751 yards and six touchdowns. ^[10]

1971 season

Mitchell's 1971 senior season was one of the top individual performances in Penn State history. In #14 Penn State's opening game victory against Navy, Mitchell recorded five touchdowns and 103 rushing yards, breaking a Penn State single-game scoring record that had stood since 1917. ^[11] The following week against Iowa, Mitchell recorded 29 carries for 211 yards and one touchdown in a 44-14 victory. ^[12] In week three, Penn State almost lost in an upset to Air Force before a late game field goal gave them the 16-14 victory. Mitchell had 18 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown. ^[13] The next week against Army, Mitchell again had a game-stealing performance with 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 42-0 victory. ^[14] In week five against Syracuse, Mitchell had 24 carries for 94 yards. ^[15] In week six against Texas Christian, Mitchell continued his pursuit of Penn State records in a 66-14 victory. Mitchell had 22 carries for 177 yards and four touchdowns, while Franco Harris added 17 carries for 104 yards and one touchdown. Penn State set a new school record of 632 total offensive yards, with 484 rushing yards and 148 passing yards. Mitchell moved his season total touchdown mark to 14, tying Charlie Pittman for the Penn State season total record with five games remaining. ^[16] The next week against West Virginia, Mitchell broke the Penn State single-season touchdown record by recording 24 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-7 victory. ^[17]

In week seven against Maryland, Penn State again dominated with a 63-27 victory. For Mitchell, this game cemented his All-America status and brought him to the forefront of the Heisman Trophy watchlist. Mitchell started the game with a 33-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. By the end of the game, he had 209 rushing yards and matched his career high with five touchdowns. During the game, Mitchell broke six Penn State records, including career rushing yards (passing Lenny Moore), single-season rushing yards (also passing Moore), most points in a season, most career points, and extended his single-season touchdown mark. ^[18] After the victory, Penn State reached #5 in the AP poll, its highest ranking of the season.

The following week, Mitchell continued his record-setting streak in a 35-3 victory over North Carolina State. Mitchell recorded four touchdowns in the game, breaking the NCAA single-season touchdown record. ^[19] The next week, Penn State continued their undefeated streak with a 55-18 victory over the Pitt Panthers. Mitchell had 181 rushing yards and three touchdowns. ^[20]

The Nittany Lions' only loss of the 1971 season came in the final regular season game against #12-ranked Tennessee. Penn State had four fumbles and their high-scoring offense was stifled by Tennessee's defense. Mitchell's only score came on a 14-yard reception from quarterback John Hufnagel. ^[21]

Despite the loss to Tennessee, Penn State earned a bid to the 1972 Cotton Bowl where the #10 Nittany Lions faced #12 Texas. Penn State forced five fumbles and held Texas to just two field goals in a 30-6 victory. Mitchell had 27 carries for 146 yards and one touchdown, and was voted the games Offensive Most Valuable Player. ^[22] Penn State finished the season at #5 in the AP poll with a 10-1 record. ^[23]

Mitchell finished the 1971 season with 254 carries for 1,567 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns and added 16 receptions for 154 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He was voted to the 1971 AP All-America First-Team and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He led the NCAA, and set NCAA records, in rushing touchdowns (26), total touchdowns (29), and points (174). ^[24]

College statistics

Professional career

Mitchell was selected by the Baltimore Colts with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 1972 NFL Draft.

Baltimore Colts (1972-1977)

Mitchell established himself in the mid-1970s as one of the best all-around running backs in the NFL. Mitchell, along with teammate Bert Jones, propelled the Baltimore Colts to three consecutive AFC East Division titles, unseating a powerhouse Miami Dolphins team that had topped the division for four straight years (1971–74).

In Mitchell's rookie season, he was third on the depth chart behind running backs Don McCauley and Don Nottingham. Mitchell appeared in 11 games and started one. He recorded 45 carries for 215 yard and one touchdown and added 18 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown. The Colts started the season at 1-4, firing head coach Don McCafferty after week five and replacing him with defensive line coach John Sandusky. The season was most notable for being the last for Johnny Unitas as a Colts, with the team finishing at 5-9. ^[25]

Mitchell topped the 1,000-yard rushing plateau in three consecutive seasons (1975–77) earning Pro Bowl honors each year. In addition to his rushing exploits, he twice led the NFL in pass receptions, in 1974 and 1977. Mitchell was named 2nd Team All-Pro in 1976 and 1977 as well as being named 2nd Team All-AFC following the 1975 campaign.

San Diego Chargers (1978-1979)

Mitchell was traded from the Colts to the Chargers for Joe Washington and a 1979 fifth-round selection (131st overall–traded to Detroit Lions for Greg Landry) on August 23, 1978. The transaction was the result of Mitchell's acrimonious contract dispute with Colts management in which he accused team owner Robert Irsay of bad faith bargaining and racial discrimination. ^{[26] [27]} Mitchell turned in a solid season in 1978 with the Dan Fouts-led Chargers.

Los Angeles Rams (1980)

Mitchell finished his career in 1980 appearing in two games with the Los Angeles Rams.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Personal life

Mitchell earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Penn State University in 1972. He lives in Baltimore, where he and his Nittany Lion teammate Franco Harris owned Super Bakery, a company that produces nutrition-oriented foods for schoolchildren. He and Harris also partnered to rescue the Parks Sausage Company in Baltimore, the first black American owned business in the U.S. to go public. ^{[28] [29]} Mitchell is also active in lecturing students on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Mitchell is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

See also

• List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders

References

External links

• Super Bakery, Inc.