Mike Mitchell ( safety ) Michael Mitchell ( born June 10 , 1987 ) is an American football safety for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft . He played college football at Ohio University . Early years . Mitchell attended Covington Catholic High School for his first three years . He lettered as a sophomore and junior before transferring to Highlands High School in Fort Thomas , Ky . , where he lettered one , and earned Kentucky All - Star honors , in addition to being selected honorable mention All - State as a senior . That year , he led the team to the state title , recording 87 tackles with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries , returning one for a touchdown . College career . Mitchell started 30 of 45 games at Ohio University — 23 at strong safety and seven at free safety and recorded 212 tackles ( 126 solos ) with three sacks , 15 stops for losses and one quarterback pressure and he recovered one fumble and caused four others . He deflected 13 passes and intercepted seven others . In 2008 he started 11 games at strong safety and had 62 tackles ( 36 solos ) that included an assisted sack and 4 . 5 stops for losses and caused two fumbles and deflected five passes and led the team with three interceptions for 61 yards . As a junior , in 2007 , Mitchell started 11 games at strong safety , despite having several injuries . He finished with 74 tackles ( 47 solos ) that included 1 . 5 sacks , four stops for losses and a quarterback pressure . He also recovered a fumble and deflected four passes . He led the team with a pair of interceptions for 49 yards in returns . In 2006 he played in all fourteen games , starting the last eight contests that included seven at free safety before shifting to strong safety for the GMAC Bowl . He had 55 tackles ( 27 solos ) , including a sack and five stops for losses a caused fumble , deflected two passes and intercepted two others for 30 yards in returns . As a true freshman in 2005 Mitchell appeared in nine games , recording 21 tackles ( 16 solos ) with 1 . 5 stops for losses , caused a fumble and deflected two passes Professional career . Pre - draft . Mitchell wasn ' t invited to the NFL Combine , but performed well at Ohio ' s Pro Day . He ran a 4 . 39 - second 40 - yard dash and he did 22 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press to go along with a 37½ - inch vertical and a 10 - foot , 3 - inch broad jump . Oakland Raiders . Mitchell ' s selection raised eyebrows on draft day , as most television commentators had never heard of him and could not find him in draft guides . Mitchell was generally expected to be a second - day pick or an undrafted free agent . ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said Mitchell ' s grade was somewhere between the 40th and 70th safety available in the draft , and the NFL Network ' s Mike Mayock had given Mitchell a seventh round grade . But after posting a 4 . 43 time in the 40 - yard dash at Ohio University ' s pro day , he was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 47th overall selection . Later on draft day , it was reported that Mitchell was being targeted by the Chicago Bears ( selecting at 49 — two spots behind the Raiders ) . However , after Mitchell was taken by the Raiders , the Bears ultimately traded their selection . Upon report of this , Mike Mayock of the NFL Network apologized to the Raiders for his low grade . Mel Kiper later gave it " Most Likely To Make The Raiders Look Good Award , " stating " Oakland took Michael Mitchell , OK ? " " I asked teams after the draft . The misnomer is it ' s all Mel Kiper ' s opinion , it ' s all Todd McShay . You have to ask other teams . We ' re not the end - all , be - all . Some said they had him as a free agent . One team told me they had Michael Mitchell in the third round . They had him as a Pro Bowler . They think it ' s a great pick by the Oakland Raiders . So Oakland wasn ' t the only team out on the island that saw something in that kid . " Mitchell is the highest Ohio player to be drafted since Gene Ruskowski ' s fifth - round selection ( 44th overall ) by the Los Angeles Rams in 1948 . The last time an Ohio student - athlete was drafted in a higher round was the Bobcats ' only first round selection , Art Lewis ( ninth overall ) in 1936 by the New York Giants . Mitchell was officially signed by the Oakland Raiders on July 27 , 2009