Teradja Mitchell reflects on his time at Florida ahead of Senior Day

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Teradja Mitchell played in one of the most storied rivalries in college football. Now he’ll experience another one on Saturday. The Ohio State linebacker transfer and sixth-year senior is expected to start for the Gators in their regular season finale against No. 5 Florida State.

Mitchell is playing his last game in The Swamp and will be one of 12 scholarship players honored in the Senior Day ceremony before kickoff. He made his first start for Florida last week against Missouri and led the team in tackles with seven, giving him 21 stops on the year in 11 games played.

Mitchell said he will “most definitely” be watching his former teammates on No. 2 Ohio State face third-ranked Michigan before suiting up against the Seminoles in The Swamp. Here’s what Mitchell said this week about the matchup, his time at UF, the challenges this season and more.

Teradja Mitchell Q&A

On his message to the team after some heartbreaking losses:

Mitchell: We’ve got to use these losses as lessons. We’re going to face adversity. All through life you’re going to face adversity. It’s important for us as a team to make sure we respond. That’s one thing I can say about this team; we’re going to continue to put our best foot forward and continue to respond.

On how the Gators have handled adversity:

Mitchell: I think at times we’ve shown effort. And at times we can get better in that aspect. That’s where it comes in practice. We’ve got to continue to practice hard and continue to go out there and understand what our purpose is in all this.

On this team not mailing it in after losses:

Mitchell: That’s what happens. When you lose, you face adversity, frustration, always going to come into play. That’s a natural human element. Like I said, that’s where we together as a team, as leaders and with a younger team, we have to make sure we emphasize we have to keep plugging away — it’s a process.

Sometimes people are so focused on the results when it’s the process that gets the results that’s what matters. We’ve got to continue to practice as hard as we can and put our best foot forward. When the came comes, we play well.

On how difficult the losses have been on him:

Mitchell: It’s difficult because we put in so much work here and to not get the results obviously it’s very frustrating as players. But, like I said, it all comes back to how we respond as a team. That’s one thing I can say this team is going to — we’re going to continue to practice hard and go out there Saturday and put our best foot forward, keep chugging away.

On the challenge of Florida State’s physicality:

Mitchell: We have to reiterate on tackling and pursuit to the ball. That’s going to be important, one of the keys to win in this game. We have to pursue to the ball. Have to be a bend-but-don’t-break defense. Even when we give up a big play, we have to get the guy on the ground and live to see the next down.

On what he’s seen from FSU’s offense on film:

Mitchell: Very talented team. The quarterback, even with their backup quarterback, I think he’s pretty solid player. Great running backs, great receivers.

It’s going to be a matchup game for us. Like I said, we’ve got to make sure we prepare ourselves Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, so we can play fast on Saturday.

On what has led to the defensive breakdowns:

Mitchell: I think it all comes down to consistency. We can’t be up and down. We can’t rock the roller coaster. We’ve got to stay consistent in our play. We’ve got to sustain — the same way we were playing at the beginning the season we have to sustain that. That’s what it comes down to, consistency at the end of the day.

On what happened during the fourth-and-17 play:

Mitchell: It comes down to execution. We have to execute as players. Our coaches, they do their best to put us in the best position to make plays, and as players at the end of the day it comes down to execution. Gotta execute in those moments.

On wanting to leave a legacy about staying the course:

Mitchell: Most definitely. Like I said it all comes down — you’re going to face adversity in life. It’s just part of life. I feel like the adversity you go through, it does not define you. The way you respond to the adversity is what defines you.

I think that’s important for our younger players and leaders we have now. That’s the most important part we have to keep responding.

On what tops the list for you in terms of motivation:

Mitchell: This is a rivalry game. There is so much history in this game. We understand as players the legacy that was put forth from the former Gators. And we understand there’s a standard we have to play to, especially for this game. The guys are up, and we’re ready to go again. Let’s do it.

On playing Michigan-Ohio State and now Florida-Florida State:

Mitchell: I’m blessed. Grateful to play for two prestigious programs and to be able to play in games like this. I’m excited.

On if this is his second senior day:

Mitchell: Yes. Second senior day (laughter).

On whether he cried at the first one:

Mitchell: I held back tears. I held back tears for sure.

On what his experience has been like at UF:

Mitchell: I love the people here. That’s why I came to Florida. Coach Napier put together a great staff. I love everybody on the staff. I love the players. I love the camaraderie. I feel I’ve developed brothers over the past 12 months. I’m excited to go out there again and play with my brothers this Saturday.

On what he’s heard from his former teammates about OSU-Michigan:

Mitchell: I just know those guys they’re excited. They’re ready for the game. I just talked to a couple of them last night. It’s a big week for them. They’re excited to play.