DETROIT, Mich. – Quinyon Mitchell became the first Toledo Rocket to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 31 years when the Philadelphia Eagles chose him with the 22nd overall pick of the 2024 draft in Detroit on Thursday.

The only other Rocket to be chosen in the first round was defensive lineman Dan Williams, who was taken with the No. 11 pick by Denver in 1993. 
Mitchell, a cornerback, is now the 10^th Rocket to be drafted under Head Coach Jason Candle since 2017, the most in the Mid-American Conference.

He is also the third Rocket cornerback to be selected since 2019, following Kadar Hollman (2019, 6^th round by Green Bay) and Samuel Womack (2022, 5^th round by San Francisco).

Mitchell is also the 18th player from the Mid-American Conference to be chosen in the first round and the highest MAC pick since 2017 when Western Michigan's Corey Davis was taken as the fifth pick overall by Tennessee. He tied the record for the highest pick ever for a MAC cornerback, matching Eastern Michigan's Ron Johnson (No. 22 selection by Pittsburgh in 1978).

In 2023, Mitchell was named second-team All-America by the Associated Press, FWAA, Sporting News and AFCA. He made Walter Camp second-team All-America in 2022, which makes him the only Rocket ever to be named to all five major All-America teams in his career. He is Toledo's second player ever to be named to a major All-America team in multiple years, the other being defensive lineman Mel Long, Sr. in 1970-71.

A two-time first-team All-MAC pick, Mitchell led the nation with 20 pass breakups in 2022 and was second nationally with 18 last season. He is the first Rocket ever to be named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player.
 
Over his Toledo career, the Williston, Fla. native totaled 122 tackles with 6.5 TFLs, defended 52 passes, came up with six interceptions and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also scored on two pick-sixes in the 2022 season, two of his four interceptions in a 52-32 victory at Northern Illinois in 2022.

In an interview with ESPN's Kaylee Hartung following his selection, Mitchell thanked the University of Toledo for helping him reach his goals.

"They gave me a lot of loyalty, a lot of love," said Mitchell. "Coming out of high school, I had some grade issues and they just stuck with me throughout the whole process. I just give my thanks to them and give my thanks to God."

Comments from Quinyon Mitchell at his official press conference following his selection in the NFL Draft

Goals with the Eagles
"I'm just coming in and trying to win a championship. Whatever they ask me to do, I'm going to do it. I'm ready to roll, ready to get to it. It's a great organization with great fans so I feel like I'm going into a great situation right now."

On how life in the NFL will be different 
"I'm going to remain me. I've had a chip on my shoulder since I was in high school. Just remain me and keep going."

On thoughts as he walked up to shake the commissioner's hand
"I don't remember to be honest. It just happened so fast. But I feel good and I'm ready to dig."

On how he earned the respect of NFL scouts
"I'm from Toledo so I came into this process wanting to demand respect, at the Combine, at the Senior Bowl. I'm here now. I'm just blessed."

On the message to his former teammates
"I don't want to be the last guy from Toledo up here, or the last guy from Williston (Florida) here. I just want guys to be better than me."

On how he describes his work ethic
"I come in every day. I come to work. I'm a good teammate."

On why he stayed at Toledo when he could have transferred to a bigger school
"Some things are bigger than money, like relationships. That's why I stayed. That's why I've been around those guys (teammates). I root for them. I just love Toledo with all my heart."

On how he will adjust to the NFL
"I feel like the motto and the mantra stays the same. It doesn't matter who you're going up against, you want to go up with the same mind frame, the same confidence. I'll never change."