Mitchell was serving as a blocker for the Navy punt return unit during in the fourth quarter against SMU on Oct. 31. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver sacrificed his body, as usual, charging the group of players that form the shield and lowering his shoulder into the lead man.
It turns out Mitchell sustained a broken collar bone from the impact, although no one would ever have known it at the time.
“Ryan got up and finished the play. He continued to chase down the ball then jogged off the field,” Navy wide receivers coach Mick Yokitis said.