Brennan’s coaches saw it. College football recruiters believed it.
And now, two games into the 2026 season, everyone sees it – junior running back Jayshawn Mitchell is living up to the hype.
Mitchell, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior, has 294 yards and six touchdowns on 23 carries for the 1-1 Bears, who are No. 4 in this week’s Express-News Power Rankings.
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“He’s kind of lit up the field and he’s very capable and very talented,” Brennan coach Steve Basore said. “We knew he was progressing and getting better. He’s really started the season with a bang, and I would anticipate him to continue to do some great things and continue on this trend.”
In last week’s 63-0 victory against Reagan, he had 141 yards and scores from 2, 53 and 57 yards on six carries. He also threw in a 55-yard punt return for a score.
“I didn’t really get the ball as much as I am this year, and I feel like I’m really proving myself with what I can do,” Mitchell said.
Granted, projecting a fast start was not readily apparent based on Mitchell’s 2025 statistics. After all, Mitchell had just 255 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Not mind-boggling for a running back, by any means.
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But flipping to his page on any reputable college football recruiting site, it’s clear he made an impression before the season started. 247Sports lists Mitchell as the state’s No. 16 ranked recruit for the 2028 class, the highest of any local player. He holds 30 offers, including several blue blood programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Texas.
“He didn’t stand out from the perspective of gaudy stats, but he made a lot plays,” Basore said. “We anticipated him having a great year. He has a very high ceiling and he’s working his way toward it. Every day, he’s working to get better. He’s had some great games and we’re hoping he continues to do so.”
Although he didn’t have huge rushing numbers last season, Mitchell was the Bears’ leading receiver in 2025 with 34 catches for 555 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s a testament to his versatility. A year ago, Mitchell also lined up at wide receiver and the slot. He also caught passes out of the backfield.
If there’s a reason why college recruiters love his talents, his versatility might be the main one.
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“I like that they put me at slot and running back,” Mitchell said. “That makes me very versatile, and a lot of college coaches really like that. They like the way that I can come out of the backfield and catch the ball.”
Receiving his actually his first learned skill. He caught countless passes from his father, Jamie Mitchell, growing up. Now, it’s just a second nature skill.
“My dad, that was the first thing he ever taught me – was to catch a football,” Mitchell said. “That’s always been in me since I was a little kid. Ever since then, it’s been getting better and better. I really do take a lot of pride in it.”
Mitchell gets more repetitions at running back these days. He has just one catch for 10 yards. But, he has the talent to go wide if needed. If nothing else, he’s become the focal point for opposing defenses, and that helps out everyone in a Brennan uniform.
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“It’s puts a little pressure on defenses to be aware of where he is, and if they are overly aware, then they might be overlooking other aspects of our offense, and we can take advantage of that,” Basore said. “He can be a threat at any receiver position, and he has running back skills to make cuts and have good vision. It’s really just a tribute to his versatility and his skill set.”
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This article originally published at Brennan’s Jayshawn Mitchell’s breakout start is not exactly a surprise.
