Falcons Host Top-30 Visit with RB Keaton Mitchell; EXCLUSIVE Draft Interview

The Atlanta Falcons are searching for explosiveness this offseason, and general manager Terry Fontenot has noted the need for another running back - so how about East Carolina's Keaton Mitchell?

The Atlanta Falcons had the NFL's No. 3 rushing offense this past season, averaging nearly 160 yards per game on the ground while Tyler Allgeier set a franchise record for rookie rushing yards.

And yet, Atlanta's still looking for more.

At the NFL Combine, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Allgeier but said "you always need multiple" running backs.

Beyond Allgeier, the Falcons' running back room features veteran Cordarrelle Patterson and now-third-year pro's Caleb Huntley and Avery Williams ... but Fontenot plans to keep adding.

One such player who appears to have caught the eye of Atlanta's third-year general manager is East Carolina running back Keaton Mitchell.

Following a strong Pro Day, Mitchell told reporters that he has top-30 visits set up with four teams - including the Falcons.

"It would mean a lot being there," Mitchell told SI's Falcon Report.

So, who is Mitchell and what's the meaning behind his interest in playing in Atlanta?

We spoke with Mitchell at the NFL Combine to answer exactly that.

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It's possible Mitchell's name already rings a bell - he was one of the most dominant high school players in the state of Georgia in the latter part of the 2010s.

Mitchell, who played under his father, Anthony, at Eagles Landing Christian in McDonough, finished his career with a 54-2 record and as a four-time Class A Private champion.

Across his final two seasons, Mitchell ran for 4,347 yards and 88 touchdowns, including a 49-score junior season that ranks second all-time in Georgia.

The 5-8, 179-pound Mitchell earned Class A Private Offensive Player of the Year and Class A Region 5 Player of the Year honors by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution while racking up over 5,000 all-purpose yards.

Away from the gridiron, Mitchell impressed as a track athlete, clocking a sub-11-second 100-meter dash and helped set a school record in the 4x100 meter relay.

This star-studded high school career led Mitchell to East Carolina, where he made an immediate impact, rushing for 443 yards and a pair of touchdowns across nine games while making two starts as a freshman.

Mitchell's most productive game that season came in a blowout loss to now-Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder's Cincinnati Bearcats, as he logged 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in addition to leading the Pirates with 26 receiving yards.

The following year, Mitchell emerged as a star, earning first-team all-American Athletic Conference honors after leading the league in rushing yards (1,132) and all-purpose yards per game (115).

Firmly on the draft radar as a result of his breakout sophomore campaign, Mitchell saved his best season for last.

For the second consecutive year, he earned first-team All-AAC honors, this time accompanied by honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Focus after running for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns ... while average over seven yards per carry.

Perhaps most importantly, Mitchell is more than just an efficient runner - he's a threat out of the backfield and in the return game, as well. He hauled in 60 receptions for 580 yards and three touchdowns during his three collegiate seasons and averaged over 25 yards per kick return this past year.

Now, Mitchell is aiming to follow in his father's footsteps as a professional football player.

Anthony Mitchell spent eight seasons in the NFL after going undrafted, ultimately playing a key part in the Baltimore Ravens' 2001 Super Bowl run as he had a 90-yard return touchdown on a blocked field goal to take a fourth-quarter lead in an AFC Divisional Round victory over the Tennessee Titans.

But it's Keaton's time now - and he could just be returning to his old stomping grounds.

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At season's end, Falcons coach Arthur Smith stood in front of reporters and revealed the biggest area his team needs to improve.

"The next challenge is to make sure we become more explosive offensively," Smith said.

Enter Mitchell.

After hitting 22 miles per hour in a game at East Carolina, Mitchell earned a reputation for being extremely fast - which he cemented by running a 4.37 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Sometimes, the numbers and tape don't always align ... but Mitchell isn't one of those cases.

Keaton Mitchell is faster than every player on the field @ECUPiratesFB

pic.twitter.com/Hdr8XSQQfr

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 2, 2021

Growing up within an hour of Atlanta, Mitchell said he "had (his) moments" of being a Falcons fan - moreso "here and there."

Still, his family remains close by, and he'd be excited to play in Mercedes-Benz Stadium next fall.

"It would mean a lot being there," Mitchell said. "Me personally, I think it would be a great experience, but whatever team wants me, I'm going to go out there and give it my all."

The 21-year-old Mitchell had an informal meeting with the Falcons at the Combine and evidently drew enough interest to warrant a top-30 visit.

So, why Mitchell?

Smith wants explosiveness - and Mitchell, when breaking down his play style, shared that he brings exactly that.

"Just a home-run hitter," Mitchell said. "Somebody that can make things happen, make something out of nothing - somebody that's got a sense for the endzone."

Explosiveness comes in many different forms ... but for the 2023 Falcons, it may just be in a 5-8, 179-pound, 21-year-old former Georgia high school star otherwise known as Keaton Mitchell.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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