Tulsa World: Up close: OSU's Andrew Mitchell

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Up close: OSU's Andrew Mitchell

Oklahoma State's Keith Toston breaks free past Iowa State's Michael O'Connell for a long run in the first quarter Saturday in Ames, Iowa. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 11/11/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 11/11/2009 5:44 AM

STILLWATER — Andrew Mitchell was once a junior college walk-on. Now he's a starter in the Big 12.

Mitchell made his second career start and first league start when he subbed for injured tackle Brady Bond and helped Oklahoma State amass a season-best 331 rushing yards in a 34-8 victory at Iowa State.

OSU players have fallen by the wayside all season. Among them: Orie Lemon, Jamal Mosley, Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter (he's back now). But the Cowboys are on the verge of securing their first consecutive eight-win seasons since 2002-03.

"We said at the beginning of the year, even though we lost some key players here and there, we have a lot of great senior leadership and a lot of guys that won't let this team fall," running back Keith Toston said.

Mitchell migrated more than just one spot up the depth chart. He detoured to two Utah junior colleges and went on a religious mission to San Bernardino, Calif., before becoming a Cowboy.

"It has been quite the journey," he said. "But I learned a lot from it."

How was the mission trip?

It was quite an experience. It's really unlike anything else. You are 19 years old and you are essentially going somewhere you have never been and meeting people you have never met and you are literally meeting dozens of people a day for two years straight, so it's a really unique experience.

You could gone to a worse spot than California.

It worked out well because I got to learn Spanish and got to learn a lot about the Hispanic culture, but still got the perks of living in the United States with the FDA and clean food and clean water.

Were doors slammed in your face?

That's part of the deal. You get used to it and you learn how to let it roll off of you.

You're pursuing a degree in journalism and broadcasting. What do you want to do?

I would like to get into coaching. If coaching turns out to be not what I want to do at some point, I wouldn't mind getting into the broadcast and radio kind of stuff.

What is appealing about coaching?

I love football and, to be honest with you, I'm 24 years old and there is nothing else that really gets me excited as far as working goes except doing something related to football.

You waited a long time to start. Was it worth it?

I definitely think it is worth it. One thing I learned throughout the whole experience is things rarely, if ever, happen the way you expect them to. Depending on what kind of person you are, you can take that one of two ways. You can stick your nose to the grindstone, so to speak, and keep going and work hard and get better and wait for your opportunity. Or you can kind of put it on cruise control. It has been tough at times not being able to get the reps and snaps you might want, but, having the opportunity to help your team — the guys you work with and live with year-round, it's a great thing.

FAST FACTS

Position: Offensive Line

Class: Sr.

Height: 6-5

Weight: 309

Hometown: Choctaw, OK

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer

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AndrewMitchellForPresident, (11/11/2009 11:57:21 AM)

Andrew Mitchell would start for any big 12 school -- he's that good.

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