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Alabama Freshman DB Tony Mitchell Talks Arrest, Suspension After Being Cleared for Team Activities
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell has been through a lot already after just a few months on campus.
On March 15, Mitchell along with Christophere Lewis were arrested in Holmes County, Fla. with 226 grams of marijuana, a loaded gun and more than $7,000 in cash. All of the evidence was found after a traffic stop due to Mitchell and Lewis traveling over 141 MPH.
On May 24, Mitchell was placed on probation for three years. He paid $1,560, will serve 100 hours of community service and will reportedly receive drug counseling as well. On June 1, Mitchell was cleared to return to football activities.
Now, he's talking about the big mistakes he made that night in mid-March.
"I just want to start off by thanking God for not just being there for me but also for slowing me down,” Mitchell said in a video on Twitter. “Even though this situation was beyond hard for me, I find joy in knowing that if God didn’t stop where he did, something much bigger could have happened. I also want to thank Alabama football for seeing my potential and giving me a second chance."
“I am grateful for everyone who supported me through this hard time. Every day, just thinking the possibility of it all being over with devastated me. I didn’t know if I would get to play football again, but I continued to work out and stay close with the Lord and those who love me unconditionally."
“During these times, it helped me to keep my mind off it, but when I was by myself, looking at social media and what everybody had to say about it, it just felt like it happened again. I couldn’t sleep at night. Everyone is always going to have something to say about you, whether you’re right or wrong."
“But I appreciate my family and my dad for always being there for me and the constant advice, my mom for always making time to talk to me and my grandma for always being there for me since I was young and all my events and games. And Byron [De’Vinner] also being a mentor for me and all the college trips we went on all the time. My trainers, Donnie Lee and Mike McCoy, for pushing me to train hard and helping me take my game to another level."
“I was doing things knowing I shouldn’t to try to fit in, but not everybody is your friend. And I learned this when I looked around and saw that our morals didn’t align. To all the athletes here tonight, just keep pursuing your dreams. God’s got a designated path for you, and all your talents are from the Lord. Do not let anyone or anything distract you from your purpose, and keep a small circle of people that truly love and care about you. Always work hard because it will pay off in the end. Thank you.”
Mitchell, a former four-star recruit, was the No. 15 safety in the country out of high school.
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