Carson-Newman Football Position Previews: The Quarterbacks
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second part in an eight-part series breaking down Carson-Newman football’s positions or 2021. This preview breaks down the quarterbacks with assistances from offensive coordinator Brock Pursley.
VIDEO: Brock Pursley Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second part in an eight-part series breaking down Carson-Newman football's positions or 2021. This preview breaks down the quarterbacks with assistances from offensive coordinator Brock Pursley.
Carson-Newman will still be looking to replace three-year starter Derrick Evans from the 2019 season, as well as Tyler Thackerson, who guided the Eagles to a playoff win at Bowie State and played in the Eagles spring game at UVA Wise.
Trey Mitchell (Knoxville, Tenn.) split time with Thackerson in that game. He completed 12-of-25 passes at UVA Wise for 282 yards and two scores. His 89-yard connection with DeQuan Dudley goes down as the third-longest pass completion in school history. He also rushed three times for 10 yards.
"The thing about Trey is how hard he has worked in the offseason to improve his leadership," Pursley said. "Sure he's worked on his arm, his athleticism. However, the thing that has taken him from one level is his leadership. He was voted onto the player's leadership council. He's taken that role seriously and been encouraging and vocal."
Mitchell made his way to Carson-Newman from ETSU where he started the final 11 games of the 2019 season.
He finished the season completing 148-of-265 passes for 1,616 yards and 11 touchdowns … Completed .558 percent of his passes, which ranks sixth in ETSU history in career completion percentage. He completed a career-best 19 passes against Samford, finishing with 182 yards and one touchdown. His career-best for yardage came with 250 yards against VMI, while launching a career-high three touchdowns against The Citadel.
The Eagles have loads of experience behind Mitchell in Micah Young (Duncan, S.C.). In 2019, he appeared in 10 games for Carson-Newman as a reserve quarterback, wide receiver and special teams player. He completed one of his two passes on the year for 22 yards and carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards and his first career score against Catawba (10/12). Had a career best five carries for 28 yards that day.
"He's a guy that all the younger guys look up to," Pursley said. "He does everything right. He says the right things and then puts that into action. He's been around and the freshman are drawn to him because of how much he is helping them grow."
Carson-Newman has a slew of freshman who will also be looking to make an impact.
"They're smart players with high football IQs," Pursley said. "When they ask questions, they are asking good, valid questions. They are watching the guys in front of them going through physical reps, getting a mental rep through that and applying it when it's their turn."
Carson-Newman football's position previews continue with the running backs on Sunday.
