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Black belt background helps Mitchell on the offensive line

Related Topics: lineman, Black belt

Kevin Pendleton first saw it on Instagram.

Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee heard players talking about it at practice.

Paul Adams did a double take when he found out.

"If they ask me about it, I’ll tell them," redshirt senior Kyle Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s athletic background extends beyond football. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman has experience with a rare sport: He’s a black belt in taekwondo.

Mitchell started taekwondo training as a 9-year-old, and he earned a black belt by age 12. He grew up in California and traveled around the West — from Portland, Oregon, to Reno, Nevada — for competitions.