Steven Mitchell Jr. has been playing this season with a cardinal-and-gold patch on the left breast of his USC jersey that reads "graduate," recognition of the first of two diplomas he has earned at the school.
The bachelor's degree came last year, when he also earned college football's version of the Purple Heart by undergoing season-ending knee surgery for the second time in his college career.
But while the two injuries — one to each knee — slowed Mitchell, they didn't stop him. And for that, coach Clay Helton is both awed and thankful.
For Mitchell, who was third on the team with 41 catches for 644 yards and four touchdowns — all career highs — it was part of the learning experience.