Oregon junior cornerback Terrance Mitchell will enter the 2014 NFL draft. Rand Getlin from Yahoo! Sports first reported the news.
#Oregon DB Terrance Mitchell is making final preparations to enter the NFL Draft, according to multiple sources.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) January 3, 2014
GoDucks.com editor Rob Moseley confirmed the news in a phone conversation with Mitchell Thursday night.
Just got off the phone w/ Terrance Mitchell, can confirm he’s entering the draft. Said he loves UO and its fans but wants to take next step.
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) January 3, 2014
The Oregonian’s Andrew Greif also spoke with Mitchell. Mitchell said he knew he’d enter the draft after Monday’s 30-7 Alamo Bowl victory over Texas.
“I’m just focused on going out and when I’m lined up with all the other DBs in the country just to go show what I can do and put show on like I did coming out of high school,” Mitchell told Greif.
Mitchell also said he received an unfavorable draft evaluation but said it wasn’t fair. He also said, “Being at Oregon was great.”
“I felt like I accomplished a lot and it was time to go to the next thing,” he said.
Mitchell led all Ducks defenders with five interceptions in 2013. He also had 59 tackles, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble.
The Ducks will have now have to replace at least three starters in the secondary. Safeties Brian Jackson and Avery Patterson are both seniors. Junior cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu might enter the NFL draft, as well, although he most recently said he’s undecided.
Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415