Negative Recruiting Steered Erik Mitchell to Colorado

Colorado freshman Erik Mitchell, a former running back at Los Alamitos High School, said negative recruiting by Nebraska and Washington helped steer him to Colorado.

Mitchell told the Rocky Mountain News this week that coaches from Nebraska and Washington questioned Colorado’s reputation and staff while recruiting him last winter.

“My decision came to four schools--Colorado, Nebraska, Washington and Washington State,” said Mitchell, one of the fastest prep running backs in Southern California last year. “But the coaches at Nebraska started running down Colorado, and that really turned me off.”

Many schools have been accused of negative recruiting, which is not a violation of NCAA rules.

“The Washington coaches came to my house and they started saying Colorado would never have another year like the one it had last year,” said Mitchell, who will play wingback for the defending Big Eight champions. “They told me Colorado was being investigated and might be going on probation and might never have a chance to go to a bowl.

“Nebraska said some of the same kind of things. I didn’t like that at all. Once a school starts running down another school, it gives you a bad impression.”

Mitchell said Nebraska strength and conditioning Coach Boyd Epley told him that Colorado would not help him develop in the weight room and prepare him for a pro career as well as Nebraska would.

Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said he knew nothing of Mitchell’s accusations.

Mitchell and the Buffaloes will play Tennessee in the inaugural Pigskin Classic Aug. 26 at Anaheim Stadium.