Alabama defensive back Tony Mitchell knew that he was in hot water.
He was arrested in March and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. He was trying to evade the authorities and reportedly drove his vehicle upwards of 141 miles per hour in order to do so. Mitchell was suspended by Nick Saban following his arrest and in May, was sentenced to three years of probation, a $1,560 fine and 100 hours of community service.
Those are all severe punishments, but the former four-star defensive back has apparently learned from the experience. So much so that he’s talking to the youth about the consequences of bad decisions.
“I didn’t know if I’d be able to play football again, but I continued to work out and stay close with the Lord and those who love me unconditionally,” Mitchell said in a video posted to social media by his father (h/t ESPN). “During those times, it helped me to keep my mind off it. But when I was by myself looking at social media, what everybody had to say about it, it just felt like it happened again. I didn’t sleep at night.”
“I was doing things I knew I shouldn’t to try to fit in,” Mitchell explained, “but not everybody’s your friend.”
Hopefully, this is the beginning of a turnaround for Mitchell, because the 6-foot-2, 180-pound defensive back from Alabaster, Alabama does have a ton of potential.
His father, Tony Mitchell Sr., recently posted on Facebook that his son has been reinstated at Alabama, but per ESPN, a Crimson Tide spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
