Texas offers top-ranked JUCO ILB Juwan Mitchell

For just the second time this cycle, Tom Herman and his staff have extended an offer to an inside linebacker prospect, with the latest invitation going out to elite Butler C.C. (Kan.) product Juwan Mitchell, he announced on Twitter.

A three-star talent, Mitchell owns eight offers and is currently committed to Minnesota, as he pledged to the Golden Gophers in late March. With Texas becoming the latest to pursue the nation’s No. 1 JUCO inside linebacker prospect, per the 247Sports Composite, Mitchell joins top-ranked Upland (Calif.) product Justin Flowe as the only two 2020 inside linebacker prospects Texas has offered to date.

Though Flowe could be considered a bit of a long-shot for the Longhorns, Texas has a key tie that could prove beneficial in Mitchell’s recruitment, as the Longhorns signed Butler C.C. star and top-ranked JUCO strong-side defensive end Jacoby Jones last cycle.

“Juwan is a very instinctual player. He is able to diagnose plays very quickly just based on his instincts,” Butler C.C. linebackers coach Kyle Woodall told 247Sports’ Ryan Burns. “He’s very athletic and is one of the more physical players that we have.”

“Juwan is very naturally gifted. He has great speed, athletic ability, and understands the game,” Woodall later added. “He loves the physical side of the game and has been a great asset to our defense. I think Juwan is just starting to tap into his potential and is only going to improve. With his natural ability, and being in a college weight room for a winter now, the sky is the limit for him.”

Last season, such a skill set paved to way for Mitchell to amass 55 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and one pass breakup.

Listed as 6’1, 235 pounds, Mitchell is ranked as the No. 17 overall JUCO prospect, per the 247Sports Composite. He’s on pace to graduate in December, which would afford Mitchell three years to play two at the Division I level.