Mitchell signs with Tenn. Tech

RUSSELLVILLE - Caleb Mitchell couldn't imagine choosing just one sport to play.

So he didn't.

A safety and wide receiver for Russellville's football team and a center fielder for the baseball team, Mitchell decided to continue pulling double duty in college. That's why the Russellville senior decided to sign Monday with Tennessee Tech of the Division I FCS Ohio Valley Conference.

"I was kind of thinking about playing baseball first, but Tech came through big and said I could play football too," said Mitchell, who will attend Tennessee Tech on a full football scholarship. "Their baseball coach (Matt Bragga) came and watched me in the first round of the playoffs (this year). They liked what they saw, and they told me I was welcome to play baseball even if I didn't play football. I liked the sound of that. Why not try to play both and get a good education?"

Now that he's signed with a Division I university, Mitchell will not be eligible to be signed by an Major League Baseball franchise until after his junior year. Mitchell said he had explored playing junior college baseball, which could have allowed him to sign with an MLB team sooner. Mitchell even signed to play baseball at Wallace State-Hanceville before signing with Tennessee Tech.

"I was going to choose between those two (schools)," Mitchell said. "I was going to wait and see after baseball how I felt. If I knew I was going to go to the MLB, I would have just played baseball. But I don't know that for a fact."

"It would have been a hard road," Mitchell added about possibly jumping right into professional baseball. "And I can also get drafted out of Tech. I didn't want to take the risk and decided to go ahead and get my education."

At first, Mitchell wasn't sure if he'd have the opportunity to play both sports at the Division I level. Initially, Tennessee Tech coach Watson Brown told Mitchell he should focus on football his freshman year, Mitchell said. Tennessee-Martin then offered Mitchell a football scholarship and an opportunity to play baseball before Tech did the same.

Brown, however, said he has no problem with Mitchell playing baseball.

"I did it at Vanderbilt when I was in college, and I have always let kids do so," Brown said. "The only time I ever have reservations about it is when it's a quarterback wanting to do it.

"I think (Mitchell) will be a defensive back. We think he's a safety and possibly a corner. He could play wide receiver and kick returner. He's really a good athlete who could play so many position for us. He's a competitive kid, and he'll bring that to our team."

The football team roster on Tennessee Tech's athletics Web site lists Mitchell as a wide receiver.

"(Brown) said I have a definite shot at starting somewhere," said Mitchell, who will wear No. 15 for the Golden Eagles. "I don't have a baseball number yet. We'll see. After I learn all the ropes in football, if I can make it, I'll play baseball too. They said I have a spot. I just have to keep my grades up."

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@timesdaily.com.