Freshman Mitchell is center of attention at WSSU after his winning kick

Photo: Matt Mitchell made his first two field-goal attempts of his career.

By John Dell, Winston Salem Journal

Matt Mitchell finds all the attention a little overwhelming.

“I’ve never done a TV interview before,” he said yesterday during Winston-Salem State’s weekly press conference. “I really don’t know what to say.”

Mitchell, a freshman kicker from Belmont, prefers to let his right foot do the talking.

He made the first two field-goal attempts of his college career Saturday as WSSU beat Morgan State 19-17. His second field goal, a 24-yarder with 4/10ths of a second to play, won the game.

“Maybe I’ll get used it,” Mitchell, smiling, said of his sudden popularity.

Coach Kermit Blount of the Rams couldn’t help but poke fun at Mitchell’s first shot at a TV interview.

“You weren’t nervous were you Matt?” Blount said. “Well, get used to it, because you are going to have to do more of these.”

Mitchell has noticed fellow students paying him more attention.

“People I haven’t ever talked to before have come up to me and said ‘nice kick,’” Mitchell said.

From Shawn Thomas to Ashton Oakley to Matt Hind to Chad Oakley, the Rams have had successful kickers in recent seasons. But Chad Oakley graduated in the spring, forcing the Rams to break in a new kicker.

Blount and his staff set their sights on Mitchell, a 6-0, 190-pounder who also played some safety at South Point High School. He came in with WSSU’s latest class of recruits and so far has been the most valuable. As a high-school senior, he made 6 of 8 field-goal attempts, with his longest a 53-yarder.

Mitchell said he had two offers, a half scholarship at Lenior-Rhyne and a full scholarship at WSSU. He decided on WSSU, but not just because of football.

“What made me want to come here was they have an animation program I liked, and I would be the starting kicker,” said Mitchell, who wants to get into cartoon animation after graduation.

Mitchell also kicks off, and he isn’t afraid to throw his body around. Offensive coordinator Nick Calcutta said that Mitchell’s big hit on an unsuspecting Morgan State player during a kickoff is one to remember.

“I saw this guy coming out of the corner of my eye, so I just braced myself and ended up hitting him pretty good, and he flew up in the air,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell didn’t celebrate after the hit. He simply walked back to the sideline.

“He’s just a quiet kid,” Calcutta said. “He loves playing the game and loves being here. He’s a great competitor, but those TV guys have their work cut out for them trying to get him to talk because it’s like pulling teeth with him.”

Calcutta said it’s an asset having a kicker who isn’t high-maintenance. “He’s able to block a lot of distractions out,” Calcutta said.

Mitchell has had to adjust to place-kicking without a tee, as he did in high school, and Blount has been easing ease him into the role. Mitchell didn’t attempt a field goal in WSSU’s first two games but was perfect on his extra-point attempts.

On Saturday, Mitchell’s first field goal was perfect from 38 yards. However, he had an extra-point attempt blocked in the fourth quarter after a missed assignment on the line.

On the winning field goal, holder Justin Sherrod handled a high snap, but got the ball down, and Mitchell made the kick easily.

As for the celebration, Mitchell jumped up twice. That was it.

“I was more nervous on the first kick because it was my first attempt and it was from 38,” Mitchell said.

One of the traditions that the Rams have is selecting one player to give a short speech to the team during pregame preparations. Running back Jed Bines said that Mitchell was selected before the game against Coastal Carolina but didn’t say much.

Now, standing in front of his teammates and getting them fired up should be easier.

“I can’t ever think of anything to say,” Mitchell said.

“I want it to be good, so the guys will be excited.”