14-Year-Old Track and Field Sensation Achieves What American Legend Could Not at 18

Now, he has become the center of attention. In a video uploaded by the ReadySetGo podcast by Justin Gaitlin and Rodney Green today, the young phenomenon was discussed.  Justin Gaitlin appeared to be full of praise for the young record-setter, Mitchell. He said, “I met Dillon, young guy, kind of a guy like you can tell like he just keeps to himself. To know I met this kid and him going out there doing that, and staying in touch with him, man, it blew my mind!”

He further said, “Because I am thinking about this kid gonna go and maybe run, you know 10.4, as a freshman at that. So, when he went 10.35, I hit him up and say, hey man, I didn’t run 10.35 till I was a senior. So you out here doing your thing, dawg, as a freshman, and then double back around, the next week and run 10.2 with a little wind, tailwind to it. But, then, double back again to run 10.0 now.” The contrast between the two is even greater, however, when placing their development timelines against each other. Gatlin, who was born in 1982, did not always break below 10.1 seconds until his early 20s or late teens, years into formal training.

On the other hand, Mitchell, born around 2011, is doing so with a body still developing. In track, in which physical peak generally comes in the mid-20s, Mitchell’s early supremacy presumes a ceiling that may reach or exceed that of Gatlin and other legends. As a senior in high school in 2000, Gatlin was a standout sprinter, but his times were in the 10.2 to 10.4 range. It wasn‘t until he was a freshman at the University of Tennessee in 2001, at the age of 19, that he delivered a 10.08-second performance to capture the NCAA championship. 

At 14, the rising track and field star is already closing in on those marks—his 10.07 is a mere 0.01 seconds behind Gatlin‘s 2001 mark. He also plays football for his school, and added to it is his record-breaking run. Thus, he has become a favorite among many FBS schools.

Track and Field rising sensation Dillon Mitchell has offers from Arkansas and Texas State

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Dillon Mitchell continues to turn heads with his blazing speed and versatility. After his 10.35 and 10.29 stints, he got 10 offers within 90 minutes from FBS (Football Subdivision School) schools such as Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida, Ole Miss, SMU, Syracuse, Houston, and Baylor wasted no time in recognizing his talent. But Mitchell isn’t just fast—he’s a playmaker as well. As a freshman, he has racked up an impressive 667 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on only 26 carries. He also clocked a laser-timed 4.37-second 40-yard dash back in December. Add in seven receiving touchdowns and six more on special teams, and thus Dillion Mitchell is one of the most electrifying young athletes in the country.

Even with double-digit offers now on the table, Arkansas was ahead of the curve, becoming the first major program to offer Mitchell back in January. His track speed is equally remarkable—he set a freshman record in the 60-meter with a 6.74-second performance at Texas A&M. On top of that, the track and field star in making posted a strong 22.1-second finish in the 200-meter, further cementing his status as a rising speedster.

With Arkansas and Texas State now officially in the mix, Mitchell’s recruitment battle is only heating up. His rare combination of speed, agility, and playmaking ability makes him one of the most sought-after prospects in the class of 2028!