Coming out of Petal High School in Collins, MS in 2022, DT Kelten Mickell (6-2 295) said he had some college scholarship opportunities before transfers took them all. Mickell calls himself a victim of the Transfer Portal. Schools that had interest in him all of a sudden filled up with transfers.
Mickell had a senior season worthy of opportunities. He totaled 81 tackles with four sacks and two interceptions. He was chosen for the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic. In the weight room, he set the school record in the squat at 650 pounds.
Mickell had credentials but limited opportunities, so he decided the best way to prove himself to college coaches was through the junior college ranks. He enrolled at Jones College in Ellisville, MS prior to last season, and established his turf.
Mickell earned First Team All-Conference honors by compiling 34 tackles with three tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and a sack. He also bllocked a field goal attempt. Now, the college coaches know about him.
Georgia was one of his first major offers. Miami followed suit, and last week South Carolina did as well with defensive line coach Travian Robertson making the call to Mickell.
“They had followed me on Twitter, and I talked to the D-line coach, coach T-Rob, and they had offered me,” Mickell said. “He said he liked my twitch and the way I play. It was really amazing. Me coming from a small town and getting these big time offers is kind of big to me.”
Mickell doesn’t know all that much about the Gamecocks, but he plans to learn more when he comes in for an official visit this season.
“The defense that they have, they always produce D-linemen,” Mickell said. “This is my first time getting to know them for real. I’ve got an official visit. We haven’t scheduled it yet. He’s going to send me a calendar of their schedule and then he’s going to let me know.’
Mickell also has offers from Boise State, Houston, Liberty, Troy, Jackson State, UTSA, Southern Miss and Arkansas State. He said USC, Georgia and Miami are showing him the strongest interest at this point, and he plans to get in a visit to Georgia as well this season. He’d like to make his decision in October.