LAS VEGAS – Virginia Tech football's James Mitchell was selected in the fifth round at No. 177 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday, marking the first Hokie off the board.
Mitchell, who was tabbed "The Governor" during his days in Blacksburg, is the first Tech player taken by the Lions since 2013, when Detroit took wide receiver Corey Fuller in the sixth round. Mitchell is the first Tech tight end picked since Dalton Keene in 2020 (New England, third round).
The Big Stone Gap, Virginia native racked up 52 catches, 838 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his career with the Hokies and was an All-ACC selection in 2020.
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The Lions are coming off a 3-13 season last year, finishing fourth in the NFC North. Mitchell joins Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson (defensive lineman, No. 2 overall), Alabama's Jameson Williams (wide receiver, No. 12), Kentucky's Joshua Paschal (defensive lineman, No. 46) and Illinois' Kerby Joseph (safety, No. 97) in Detroit' draft class.
For a list of who else from Tech is expected to be drafted.