Mitchell Agude Explained

Mitchell Agude
Current Team:Detroit Lions
Number:50
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:10 March 1999
Birth Place:Corona, California, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:245
High School:Santiago High School
(Corona, California)
College:Riverside CC (2018–2019)
UCLA (2020–2021)
Miami (2022)
Undraftedyear:2023
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Pfr:AgudMi01

Mitchell Chukwuebuka Agude (born March 10, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Riverside City College, UCLA and Miami.

Early life

Agude was born on March 10, 1999, and grew up in Corona, California.[1] He is of Nigerian descent.[2] At age nine, Agude had a near-death experience when he fell off his skateboard and hit his head on a slab of concrete, going into a coma.[3] [4] At the hospital, doctors said that his brain was permanently damaged and that he would spend the rest of his life in a vegetative state.[3] His mother prayed, and Agude, after having spent three days in a coma, woke up without any issues, leaving the hospital shortly afterwards under his own power.[3]

Until graduating middle school, Agude played no organized sports under orders from the doctors, although at times he would sneak out of his house to play backyard football with his friends.[3] He was allowed to play beginning in high school, and made the varsity at Santiago High School.[3] At Santiago in 2016, Agude totaled 27 tackles and one interception.[5] He entered Riverside City College following his time at Santiago.[6]

College career

Agude played two seasons for Riverside, compiling 67 tackles and five sacks in 20 games while playing linebacker.[6] He was ranked a three-star junior college recruit and a top-ten junior college recruit nationally.[7] He initially committed to play for the Maryland Terrapins, but was then told that his grades were not good enough to qualify.[3] He was able to improve his grades and ultimately committed to play for the UCLA Bruins.[3] In his first year at UCLA, Agude appeared in seven games, five as a starter, and recorded a team-leading nine tackles-for-loss.[8] The following season, he played 12 games and started 10, being named an all-Pac-12 Conference selection with 54 tackles and 39 quarterback pressures.[2] [8] Agude transferred to Miami for a final season of college football in 2022.[9] He totaled 39 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss and four sacks in his only year with the team.[10]

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Agude was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.[11] He was waived on August 28, as part of the final roster cuts.[12]

Detroit Lions

On September 20, 2023, Agude was signed to the practice squad of the Detroit Lions.[13] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 30, 2024.[14]

Notes and References

  1. NFL Draft Profile: Mitchell Agude, EDGE, Miami Hurricanes. Sports Illustrated. July 27, 2022.
  2. Web site: From near death to UCLA to Miami: Mitchell Agude now wants to follow Jaelan Phillips' path to first round. The Athletic. April 19, 2022. Navarro, Manny. subscription.
  3. News: His Vision Is To Celebrate Life. The Los Angeles Times. Newspapers.com. September 23, 2021. B12, B11. Bolch, Ben.
  4. News: Agude blessed to be enjoying life, playing for Canes. The Miami Herald. Newspapers.com. August 25, 2022. A15, A18. Degnan, Susan Miller.
  5. Web site: List of Miami Hurricanes selected as undrafted free agents. Rivals.com. April 30, 2023. Benjamin, Marcus.
  6. News: From coma to commit: Mitchell Agude's life-altering journey to UCLA football . Los Angeles Daily News. December 18, 2019. Vanoni, Maggie.
  7. News: Dolphins Wire UDFA Player Profile: LB Mitchell Agude. USA Today. Sarney, Jason. May 19, 2023.
  8. Web site: Mitchell Agude. UCLA Bruins.
  9. Web site: Miami lands commitment from former UCLA defensive end Mitchell Agude. The Athletic. registration. March 25, 2022.
  10. Miami's Mitchell Agude Declares for NFL Draft. Sports Illustrated. January 12, 2023.
  11. News: Agude, in a coma as a child, tries to make Dolphins. The News-Press. Newspapers.com. May 19, 2023. B2. Habib, Hal.
  12. Web site: Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves. MiamiDolphins.com. August 28, 2023.
  13. Web site: Lions Officially Make Seven Roster Moves. NFLTradeRumors.co. Comeaux, Jonathan.
  14. Web site: Detroit Lions sign 11 players to futures contracts. Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. January 30, 2024.