Jan. 6, 2005

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri senior cornerback Shirdonya Mitchell (Arlington, Texas) has accepted an invitation to play in The Villages Gridiron Classic College All-Star Game. The game will be played at The Villages Polo Stadium, in The Villages, Fla., on Saturday, January 15, 2005. Kickoff is slated for 10 a.m. (CST), and will be shown to a national cable audience on ESPN2.

Mitchell developed into one of the top defensive backs in the Big 12 Conference in 2004, despite it being only the second season he played the position after switching from wide receiver. Mitchell led Mizzou with four interceptions on the season, which ranked him 5th in the Big 12, and 33rd nationally. He came up with arguably the biggest defensive play of the season against Colorado, when he stole a fourth-quarter pass in the endzone from a CU wideout and turned a potential game-tying score by the Buffs into an interception for Mizzou in a game that the Tigers eventually won, 17-9. Mitchell ended the 2004 season with 39 tackles, including three for loss, and added six passes broken up and one forced fumble.

The Villages Gridiron Classic claims to be the fastest-growing college all-star game in the nation, and has seen 130 alumni of the game drafted into the NFL in its seven years of existence, while more than 275 players have signed NFL free agent contracts. Players will spend a week in Orlando preparing for the game, where they will practice in front of professional scouts from all 32 NFL teams.

Mitchell will join defensive teammate James Kinney (Kanakaee, Ill.) in the game, as Kinney was selected to play earlier this week. Mitchell and Kinney will be the 8th and 9th Tigers to play in the game. In 2004, former Tigers Zack Abron, Rob Droege and Michael Harden all played in the contest, and each one eventually went on to secure free agent contracts with NFL teams.

Mitchell and Kinney will join two other Tiger seniors who have previously been selected for other all-star contests. Defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison will play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. on January 29th (televised at 2 p.m. on ESPN). Also playing in an all-star game will be wide receiver Thomson Omboga, who will play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic, in Las Vegas, Nev., on January 22nd.