Hear from Quinyon Mitchell as he joins Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship on Exciting Mics Episode 4 to break down his rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles, winning the Super Bowl, Saquon Barkley making the Madden 26 cover and 99 Club, and more!
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Cooper DeJean
Let's talk about the super bowl parade at the time. The time that you had.
Reed Blankenship
Do you remember?
Cooper DeJean
If you remember?
Quinion Mitchell
I just remember getting on the bus and then getting off the bus and then Avante and JB was just trying to be there for me, but.
Reed Blankenship
Bro, you.
Cooper DeJean
That was my favorite. That was one of my favorite parts of the dude that's seen that video after the parade, bro, because you don't know.
Reed Blankenship
You don't know what's going on in that. You don't know who. I didn't know where you were.
Quinion Mitchell
I was everywhere, bro. I was jumping in the crowd. Like, I just felt free.
Cooper DeJean
Welcome back to exciting Mics, presented by Vanda pharmaceuticals. I'm Cooper DeJean.
Reed Blankenship
And I'm Reed Blankenship. We're excited for another special guest episode featuring one of our Eagles teammates, Quinion Mitchell.
Cooper DeJean
Stay tuned for that and remember to follow exciting mics on all platforms like comment, share and subscribe on YouTube and subscribe and wherever you listen to your podcasts. Let's get it started. What's exciting us this week?
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, you went to a celebrity basketball game, didn't you? Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. It was a lot of fun. G. Put it on.
Reed Blankenship
Obviously, dude, you're jumping out of the freaking building. You're still. Dude, you're so young still, bro. It's crazy.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, I was a little sore after. A little sore after that one. I. I didn't feel young after it.
Reed Blankenship
How many points you have?
Cooper DeJean
So someone on Twitter said, I had 25 points, dude. Which I. I mean, did. Didn't feel like I had 25 points.
Reed Blankenship
But how many times?
Cooper DeJean
I want to know how many assists I had, though.
Reed Blankenship
You had a lot of assists.
Cooper DeJean
I feel like I had a lot of assist. Gilly can play.
Reed Blankenship
Gilly can play.
Cooper DeJean
You got that. Got that little lefty jumper. But it was on your team. It was a bunch of people from Philly area and. And other places. I think Zay was on my thing. Isaiah Rogers was on Gilly's team. We did not end up winning, but.
Reed Blankenship
And then you had a.
Cooper DeJean
It was a blast.
Reed Blankenship
Celebrity softball game to go to, too.
Cooper DeJean
Yes.
Reed Blankenship
That you hosted.
Cooper DeJean
And then I put on a celebrity softball game in Des Moines, Iowa. The great city of Des Moines, Iowa. Great state of Iowa for the children's hospital in Iowa City place. That means a lot to me. And the University of Iowa football program. That's who we do the wave to every. Every time after the first quarter. So I decided to do a little softball game. Had some guys come out from the Eagles. Reed Was there. AJ Was there. Smitty was there. Slay Isaiah Rogers was there. A bunch of guys from the Broncos. My boy Riley Moss was the other team captain. Dallas Clark was. There was a good turnout. I think there was around 10,000 people said 10,000. Boy, Reed hit a couple bombs, got third, got third in the third. Yeah, third in the home Run Derby.
Reed Blankenship
Started getting fatigued.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, Reed. Yeah, I was.
Reed Blankenship
It was a pitcher, though. Your brother, you're, what, the middle one? Yeah, he can't. He can't fish no more.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, I didn't. I didn't have a good showing in the Home Run Derby, in case you guys want to know. Yeah, I went first and I hit zero home runs, so.
Reed Blankenship
Sorry. You hit one out when it matters at the Philly Stadium, so you're right.
Cooper DeJean
To do that, but. And then I got to. We were putting up a lot of runs in. In one inning, so they subbed out the slow pitch for a fast pitch.
Reed Blankenship
Real deal fast pitch.
Cooper DeJean
He's a freshman in high school, I believe.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Number one recruit in the nation in her class. But yeah, I was nowhere near touching that throwing.
Reed Blankenship
What do you think she was throwing?
Cooper DeJean
I don't know. It was. All I know is fast.
Reed Blankenship
Dude, I was so scared.
Cooper DeJean
I was scared, too.
Reed Blankenship
So scared.
Cooper DeJean
Luckily, she was good.
Reed Blankenship
She was very accurate.
Cooper DeJean
It was probably like what, 60 something miles and 60 something miles an hour, you think? But they're closer than a baseball.
Reed Blankenship
That thing was mound.
Cooper DeJean
So it's. It's got to be like the equivalent of like a 90 some mile an hour fastball from.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, I haven't seen anything like that since. No, never the first off ever.
Cooper DeJean
But I swung when the ball was in the catcher's mitt already, so. And it was. It was ugly. I thought. To be honest, I thought I was gonna be able to get a hit off of her, but clearly not. Bro, that. That is. That's different.
Reed Blankenship
It's different.
Cooper DeJean
It was a lot of fun, though. We had a blast. Now we're gonna get into our quick hitters. We're gonna start off with a little R reaction video. Went to. Went to Upen last week during the week and had some fun basketball.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Oh, this is the end. This is right before we're about to leave. Saquan, throw me a lob. Oh, throwing it down. I had. I feel like I had a lot better dunks than this one throughout the day, but they weren't.
Reed Blankenship
I only saw you do that.
Cooper DeJean
They weren't on camera.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. Sn. I was like, let's Go. You don't need to do that no more.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. And then, yeah, we needed to leave. But that was fun, though.
Reed Blankenship
That was fun. And then Saquon announced that he was on the. He is going to be on the COVID mad of maddening 2626.
Cooper DeJean
Which is. And I think we got a video of him. We got a video of that doing the Madden cover shoot. Oh my gosh, dude.
Reed Blankenship
You know that's not real.
Cooper DeJean
Is that not real?
Reed Blankenship
He's definitely wired up, bro.
Cooper DeJean
Is that him?
Reed Blankenship
Yes, dude.
Cooper DeJean
That is him.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. Does it. That is cycle.
Cooper DeJean
He's got to be pulled. Is he. Someone's pulling him on strings.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, dude.
Cooper DeJean
No, he's got bunnies like that though.
Reed Blankenship
Dude, that guy's gonna be on the COVID of.
Cooper DeJean
That's insane. Yeah. Imagine being the. The guy getting hurdled to be on the COVID of Madden.
Reed Blankenship
It just gets worse and worse.
Cooper DeJean
You think it's just like a random guy, that guy? I think it's.
Reed Blankenship
Oh, yeah.
Cooper DeJean
You think it's just a random guy.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. They're not going to call the guy you actually jumped over and.
Cooper DeJean
I mean, it'd be kind of sick though.
Reed Blankenship
No, I'm not going to be put on a cover.
Cooper DeJean
I bet. I bet the dude he hurdled would be down to do that though, to be on there.
Reed Blankenship
I don't know. We might have two different opinions on that.
Cooper DeJean
It was also announced that he is a 99 overall.
Reed Blankenship
He got a diamond chain for that too, didn't he?
Cooper DeJean
Prestigious club.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, but that's.
Cooper DeJean
That's kind of tough, bro. Got a nice little chain.
Reed Blankenship
Breaking records here and there. Let's.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, doing his own thing. That is awesome, though. And then we got the finals coming up.
Reed Blankenship
You're a basketball guy, so you need.
Cooper DeJean
A big basketball guy. Pacers versus Thunder. I. I'm going. I want the Thunder to win. That was my prediction way back when.
Reed Blankenship
Oh, really?
Cooper DeJean
Who do you think's going to win the playoffs, though? I like the Thunder. I think. Yeah, they got. Shay, do you watch. Have you been watching the NBA?
Reed Blankenship
Not really, man. I'm not a big NBA guy.
Cooper DeJean
Nah, Thunder's nice. Halliburton tonight. Tyrese Haliburton has been going crazy. The Pacers, like, they have a. They have a good solid core around him, which they play well together. But I think, I mean, the Thunder are just so young and they got a lot of talent. They got, I mean, Shea, obviously, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, I believe, who's their other. Other star. But they just play. They play defense too, which Is so you only see.
Reed Blankenship
You got okc.
Cooper DeJean
I got okc. Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
Okay. I'll take the Pacers just to go against you, bro.
Cooper DeJean
You're taking the Pacers just to go against you? You think Halliburton's gonna win finals mvp, though? If they win it, yeah. You don't know anything.
Reed Blankenship
I don't. That's why I got you here, brother.
Cooper DeJean
I got. I got Shay taking home finals mvp. Then your boy.
Reed Blankenship
Scotty Scheffler won the dude championship, bro. This. What is it? What are they calling the. The Scheffler slide.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, with this. With this.
Reed Blankenship
I want to try to do.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, you're lefty, though. So. I am.
Reed Blankenship
Okay. I can still do it.
Cooper DeJean
You can do a reverse. It's not as cool.
Reed Blankenship
Dude. He's a goat.
Cooper DeJean
Do you think he's going to be the new goat of golf? Like, you think he's going to be better than Tiger Woods?
Reed Blankenship
I think so.
Cooper DeJean
And all those guys.
Reed Blankenship
You can put him in that category. I mean, he's. He has to complete a grand slam, right? To. He hasn't completed a grand slam. That's winning them all, I think.
Cooper DeJean
I don't think he has either.
Reed Blankenship
I don't think he's won a U.S. open.
Cooper DeJean
But the U.S. open is coming up.
Reed Blankenship
I know. He might be on fire, bro.
Cooper DeJean
He is. He's been on fire for the last.
Reed Blankenship
I know.
Cooper DeJean
Two, three years.
Reed Blankenship
Dude's freaking good.
Cooper DeJean
Doing crazy. He's fun to watch. I wish I could play golf like that.
Reed Blankenship
I know. Dude's dialed. Ain't like. And they're caddies. They're like best friends.
Cooper DeJean
Oh, yeah. Got to be sweet.
Reed Blankenship
You gotta trust your. You gotta trust your friends.
Cooper DeJean
Just watch. Walking around with your boy and him telling you what to do.
Reed Blankenship
What to do. Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
It is time for exciting bites, presented by Cooper Cheese. It's not just any cheese. It's Cooper. Cooper. Today we have Del Rossi's cheese steaks. I got a regular cheesesteak.
Reed Blankenship
And I got a chicken cheese steak.
Cooper DeJean
Has a chicken cheese steak. And we're going to try them out.
Reed Blankenship
And let it r them. Yeah. Rate it 1 through 10, just as we always do.
Cooper DeJean
A lot of meat packed in here.
Reed Blankenship
A lot of little heftiness right here. You know.
Cooper DeJean
Initial thought. It's really good.
Reed Blankenship
The thing is, I like the chicken, too.
Cooper DeJean
I like the bread.
Reed Blankenship
If you don't like the steak for sure, get the chicken. Obviously.
Cooper DeJean
I'm gonna try that chicken one.
Reed Blankenship
Pretty good.
Cooper DeJean
Bite off of it.
Reed Blankenship
Don't matter that we're brothers. That one right There. Oh, good gosh, dude.
Cooper DeJean
Good God, man.
Reed Blankenship
It's pretty good in it.
Cooper DeJean
Oh, yeah. All right, let's rate these cheesesteaks here, my brother. What are you. What are you gonna rate, the chicken cheesesteak?
Reed Blankenship
I'm gonna give it 8.2.
Cooper DeJean
Oh, yeah. Wow. Yeah. That's nice. That was nice, though.
Reed Blankenship
What about you? Because you tried both of them, though. I didn't try that. I didn't try the cheesesteak.
Cooper DeJean
I'm going 8.4 on the chicken cheesesteak.
Reed Blankenship
Really?
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
A lot of cheese on it, though. I like it.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. The more I eat this one, though, I'm gonna have to go 7.9 probably.
Reed Blankenship
Really?
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. The more I eat it, the better it gets.
Reed Blankenship
I like the bread, though.
Cooper DeJean
If there's a little more. Little more Cooper cheese on there, it would have been.
Reed Blankenship
So you're a cheesy guy.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, I like a little. I like a lot of cheese.
Reed Blankenship
A lot of cheese. Cooper cheese, but like that.
Cooper DeJean
Del Rossi's cheesesteaks.
Reed Blankenship
You'll be seeing me again for sure. Shout out to our exciting bite sponsor, Cooper cheese. You can find Cooper in the deli section of your local grocery store. Make sure to go to cooper cheese.com to find the closest Cooper near you and order exclusive.
Cooper DeJean
Merch. The merch. Merch is pretty fire.
Reed Blankenship
It is.
Cooper DeJean
I got sweatshirts, shirts, hats, whatever. We got footballs. You got footballs? Yes.
Reed Blankenship
Wow.
Cooper DeJean
The merch is. Go get your merch. Cooper cheese.
Reed Blankenship
Like the Thanksgiving girl.
Cooper DeJean
Cooper cheese.com. all right, let's get into our fellow defensive back, Quinon. Great friend of ours, Quinion Mitchell.
Reed Blankenship
Today gnome as Quinyanamo Bay, Florida native. First team all American. I mean, good gosh, dude. Finally get you on the show.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. Welcome on. Welcome on, dude.
Quinion Mitchell
I appreciate y' all. Appreciate it. Appreciate it.
Cooper DeJean
Let's talk about where you're from. Williston, Florida.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, man.
Cooper DeJean
What. What was it like growing up there?
Quinion Mitchell
You know, it's just like a small town. You know, everybody know everybody, you know, playing football in the churchyard and stuff like that. So it was great, you know, great experience. I feel like I learned a lot, you know, from being from a small town. So, I mean, it was good growing up. I'll say.
Cooper DeJean
Did you play football your whole life?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, I started playing football when I was, like, six or seven. You know, my dad introduced me to football. I used to watch football with my mom, you know, as a kid and stuff like that. So, yeah, I started playing when I was, like, five or six.
Reed Blankenship
Five or six. It's crazy.
Cooper DeJean
That is crazy. I didn't wait until I was like.
Reed Blankenship
What would you call that?
Cooper DeJean
Second grade?
Reed Blankenship
Was this Pop Warner?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, Pop Warner. First it was wia, then Pop Warner.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, like flat. Was it Flag or Tap?
Quinion Mitchell
No, no, Flag, dude.
Reed Blankenship
Flag's a new thing. Well, y' all are gone, but, like, flag's a new thing now.
Cooper DeJean
I never.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, it was not a thing. No, they just wasn't, dude. Sorry. But, like, we would go to a garage or something, and they'll fit us with these bucket helmets. That's all that fits.
Cooper DeJean
It works. So anyways, do you always want to. Do you always want to play in the NFL growing up, or did you. Was that ever, like, a. A goal of yours?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, so when I was younger, I used to watch, like, all the football games with my mom and stuff like that. She a big football fan, so she always watching games and stuff like that. So, yeah, she kind of, like, kind of put that in my head for me to, like, you know, want to play at this level.
Reed Blankenship
You didn't. It didn't, like, hit you, like, when did it hit you that you could play, like, actually hit you? Was it, like, in college or, like, high school?
Quinion Mitchell
You know, it was always a dream, but, you know, coming from that small town, you know, like, not too many people made it for real, you know, especially not in football. You know, I think we had, like, one in baseball, one in basketball, but, like, probably in college, you know, you know, I always knew I could do it, but, you know, when it became, like, really real, you know, my last couple years at Toledo.
Reed Blankenship
For real, were you, like, the only kind of one to make it that far for, like, in your high school? Yeah, obviously you had the college or the baseball, but I'm talking about, like, football wise.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, you know, we had. You know, it's a small town, so it's kind of like, you know, a lot of people who should have made it, you know what I'm saying, but didn't. But, man, we had a lot go to college, but, you know, ultimately, you know, they came back and stuff like that. So it's kind of really the first one to know, you know, like, go out and stick with it first.
Reed Blankenship
How did you make it to Toledo from Florida?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, man. So I was getting recruited by, like, everybody, you know, and just growing, like, going through high school, kind of had, like, a grade situation, whatever, and I just feel like they kind of just suck me through the whole process. So, like, I had to sit out, like, six months after I graduated or whatever, and yeah, they just stuck with me the whole time. So when I was time for me to go, that's why I chose Toledo.
Cooper DeJean
Is it. How. How much different is Toledo from Williston, Florida? Is it a lot different or is it still like a small town vibe?
Quinion Mitchell
Nah, I say. I say it's just colder, but they both kind of like, laid back in their own kind of way.
Cooper DeJean
For real? Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
I've never been to Toledo. Is it like a smaller college town or did you even like, go out?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, so like, my first two years, I ain't go out at all. You know, I just stayed in the dorms. But, you know, know, when I was like a junior senior, you know, we'll go out to like, bars and you know, stuff like that.
Reed Blankenship
So I don't know what's in Toledo.
Cooper DeJean
Me neither. I think I've driven through, actually.
Reed Blankenship
I know we played y. Bahamas ball.
Cooper DeJean
I know.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. I think it's like 45 minutes from Detroit, but yeah, we did play.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, dude, you guys played against each other?
Reed Blankenship
I don't think we played against each other. I think. I think it was a year off or did we play against each other?
Quinion Mitchell
No, I know we played y' all in the Bahamas Bowl.
Reed Blankenship
So you were there?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, I was there.
Reed Blankenship
Were you playing?
Quinion Mitchell
I don't remember you, but I don't remember what she was doing.
Reed Blankenship
That's crazy. That was my senior year.
Quinion Mitchell
I think that was my second year, my second year at Toledo.
Cooper DeJean
Growing up, did your dad. Your dad started a football team in your. In your hometown?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, so my dad, he's always been there for me. But, you know, growing up, when I was younger, you know, he was kind of in prison, but I think when I was in elementary school, through middle school, he kind of got out for like four or five years and started a youth football team called the Williston Raiders and really just groomed me and my. Me and my, you know, my fellow. What do you call it? Friends.
Cooper DeJean
Friends, yeah.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, it's a football players, man. And it's kind of the reason why I love the game today because of him.
Cooper DeJean
Like, was that your first time playing when. When he started the team or did you play for it?
Reed Blankenship
So he's always kind of been your coach?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, yeah. Always. Yeah. When he, when he was out, was.
Reed Blankenship
He hard, like, was he hard on you during the time?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, yeah, he was. He was like, real tough on me. You know, he helped me to the high standard, but, you know, I loved it and I appreciate him for it.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, you can tell now. I mean, first round Pick first round. Pick something, right?
Cooper DeJean
Who do you think you. You model your game after? Who are some guys that you. That you like to watch?
Quinion Mitchell
You know, I gotta say, Slay, you know, a guy who I've always, you know, modeled my game out there, you know, got. Was blessed to play with him for one year. You know, with guys like, you know, Pat Sartan and Derek Stingley and, you know, the list can go on and on forever.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. What was it like getting drafted to the Eagles and knowing that you get to play with Slay?
Quinion Mitchell
That was. It was good. You know, at first I was kind of mad because I was in the green room for, like, forever.
Reed Blankenship
What. What pit was it?
Quinion Mitchell
22, 20. Yeah, so I was there from, like, eight. I didn't get drafted until, like, I would say, like, 10, 30, 11. So I was kind of there, like, all day. So I was pissed off. But, you know, it turned out in my favor, and I was glad I got dropped here.
Reed Blankenship
Loved it, bro. Great year, too, dude.
Cooper DeJean
Let's talk about your family. You grew up with five siblings.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
How many. How many brothers?
Reed Blankenship
The oldest. Youngest.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, so I'm in the middle, so I got one. I got one older brother, you know, and then I got four sisters. Three younger than me and then one older than me.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. So your mom was a registered nurse, and you said you had, what, five siblings?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
So how did. How did she manage being a registered nurse? I mean, obviously, I don't know what they go through, but I know a little bit, and it's a lot.
Cooper DeJean
A lot of hours.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. So, like, you know, when my dad was home, like, he kind of made it easier for my mom, but, you know, when he was away, it was times where, like, you know, I wouldn't even see her sometimes, you know, I come home from school and she'll get laid off from work, but, you know, she's a grinder, you know, she's where, you know, I get my work ethic from, you know, so, you know, I really appreciate her for all she's, you know, sacrifice, you know, the time and the effort she's put in, you know, for me and my family.
Reed Blankenship
So now is she still.
Quinion Mitchell
Oh, no, no, she's not working no more.
Reed Blankenship
I love that.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, she ain't working no more. She retired, man.
Reed Blankenship
Is that because of you?
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, that's. That's big time, bro. Sweet.
Quinion Mitchell
You know, she deserve it?
Reed Blankenship
Absolutely.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
That's big time, bro.
Cooper DeJean
No doubt.
Reed Blankenship
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To Exciting Mics presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals. Let's get into Toledo.
Reed Blankenship
Big dog at Toledo.
Cooper DeJean
What was when did you start getting recruited out of high school?
Quinion Mitchell
I'll say the end of my junior year. I got my first offer from like FAMU and then just kind of just kept going up from there. For real?
Reed Blankenship
How many offers did you have? Do you remember them all or.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, so I think I had like 12. You know, I got my first offer because like I used to go on Twitter and I used to just like follow coaches and then just like comment your husband? Nah, not comment. I just like like all they post so you know I can get recognized and stuff like that. And then after that it's just kind of like Blew up. For real.
Cooper DeJean
So you had 12 offers, but did you ever, like, cut your list down to. Nah. Like, finally.
Reed Blankenship
Did you, like, travel? Did you go on any visits anywhere else?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, I took my first visit to Illinois, then I went to Toledo.
Reed Blankenship
Illinois?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, Illinois. Then I went to Toledo. I went to Arizona State, then I went to Rutgers.
Reed Blankenship
So what was what stood out? What wanted Toledo stand out because you. Because they were loyal to you?
Cooper DeJean
A little bit.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. You know, they was always there. And then, you know, Coach Kendall and the whole coaching staff, you know, they're my guys, so it's kind of just like. Just gravitate them to him. For real.
Reed Blankenship
Are they still there?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, Coach Kendall's still there. I got a different DB coach, but Coach Kendall and the strength coach, Coach B. That's.
Cooper DeJean
Did you start freshman? Through how many years were you there? 5.
Quinion Mitchell
Now I was at 4.
Cooper DeJean
Did you start every single year or no?
Quinion Mitchell
No. The first year was Covid, so we ain't have, like, no fall camp or nothing like that.
Reed Blankenship
How many games did y' all play?
Quinion Mitchell
I think we played, like, six. It started, like, in November, so I got my feet wet that year, and the next year I started, and after that, it just kind of, like, took off for real.
Cooper DeJean
So you started the final three years?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, Final three.
Cooper DeJean
Was there ever a moment where you were like, I could really. I could really, you know, play at. Play at the highest level, like, play in the NFL. Like, I really have a chance to. To do that at any point in college or. Did you already? Did you always.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, it's just that mindset, you know, when I first got on campus, you know, I felt like, you know, I was the best DB there. You know, ultimately we had, like, older guys there who, you know, who was playing and stuff like that. But, you know, once I got on campus, you know, I knew this was a real thing.
Cooper DeJean
For real, even. Even with, like, Nil and everything. Was that going on now?
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. When did Nil start? Was that 21?
Cooper DeJean
It started probably started your sophomore year? It started my freshman year.
Quinion Mitchell
I think it really started, like, my junior year.
Reed Blankenship
Was there any, like, nil deals in Toledo?
Quinion Mitchell
Nah, nah, not a bit. It only happened my last year where, like, we was really, like, getting, like, paid and stuff like that, but other.
Reed Blankenship
Than that, I'm just trying to think what would be. Dude, I've never been in Toledo. I'm just thinking because it's, like, from what you say, and it's like, I feel like it's a smaller college.
Quinion Mitchell
We sell, like, glass. Like, we Know, like, the glass city.
Cooper DeJean
The glass city? Yeah, the glass city.
Quinion Mitchell
Selling glass and stuff like that.
Reed Blankenship
It's always snowing up there.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. Yeah. It'd be real cold.
Cooper DeJean
Were there. Were there other, like, colleges, like, bigger colleges trying to pull you away from Toledo?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, my last year, they hit me in the Twitter. DMS and stuff like that, but I ain't really, like, stay loyal. Stay loyal and. Oh, my gosh.
Reed Blankenship
I like that, man. It's hard to find that now.
Cooper DeJean
It is very hard today. I mean, today you got all the.
Reed Blankenship
I'm not. Whatever we can get. That's another topic.
Cooper DeJean
But, like, I feel like. I feel like it's kind of ruining.
Reed Blankenship
It to an extent. Everybody, especially I play the game because I love the game.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
And when you get to NFL, that's a reward. Whatever. That's just my. I'm not against anybody getting paid. Whatever.
Cooper DeJean
But I feel like it's. It's gonna become more rare to find.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Like, NFL prospects from smaller schools? Just because those guys are transferring.
Reed Blankenship
Because y' all are probably the last. No, because y' all. Let me say the nil started with y' all pretty much, technically, maybe freshman, sophomore year. Yeah. Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
After my freshman year, I think.
Reed Blankenship
So that's kind of all y' all know now. And, like, everybody else behind y' all.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. I feel like it's two sides to it, though. Like, you know, some people gotta transfer, you know? Cause that's just what they got to do.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. Right.
Quinion Mitchell
You know, on the other end, it's just like, you know, just like, chasing the bag and stuff like that.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. Dude, that's crazy to even talk about chasing the bag in college.
Cooper DeJean
I know. Dudes are coming to the NFL with.
Reed Blankenship
More money than I've made in four years. It's crazy, but it is what it is.
Cooper DeJean
What was. What was Draft day? Like, who were you with? In. In the green room?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, I was with my mom, you know, my three little sisters, my grandma, and then my. My head coach, my strength coach, and then my. My DB coach in the Grand.
Reed Blankenship
And they stayed with you the whole. The whole day?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. Yeah. At the beginning, like, we had to go and, like, take pictures and stuff like that.
Reed Blankenship
What time? Yeah, what time does it start? Take me through that, because I don't. I have no idea.
Cooper DeJean
I don't either.
Quinion Mitchell
I didn't go.
Reed Blankenship
That's right.
Cooper DeJean
What?
Reed Blankenship
I'm living through you, bro.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, man, it was a chill day. I had to go there. I got ready at, like, five, then I had to be there, like, five to red carpet and interviews and stuff like that. Then we got to the green room, like, I think like 7:30, and then it. The thing rung at like 8, and then that's when it kind of started and everything like that.
Cooper DeJean
Have you ever walked the red carpet before?
Quinion Mitchell
Nah.
Cooper DeJean
That was your first time like that?
Reed Blankenship
What. What was your fit? I forgot your fit, I think.
Quinion Mitchell
I don't like all black.
Cooper DeJean
I'm a black everything.
Quinion Mitchell
I'm all black kind of guy. So I don't like all black or not. Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Did you get a chainmade for the draft?
Quinion Mitchell
Nah. Nah.
Cooper DeJean
You didn't?
Quinion Mitchell
No, I had on some jury. Okay, whatever. I gave it back. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I gave it back.
Reed Blankenship
That's funny.
Cooper DeJean
That is funny.
Reed Blankenship
But, like, were you like a nervous wreck the whole. Like, how do you. Because you're always calm on the field, bro. And in like, crazy situations, you're always calm. Like, how were you then? Like, obviously, it's a big moment in your life. How was you? How are you handling it then?
Quinion Mitchell
I was. I was calm, bro. Like, I didn't even cry. You know, I didn't tear up. I was really just like mad. Like, you know, I was ready to be off the board for real. Felt like I, you know, I was sitting there forever, but, you know, I was calm. You know, my people, they cried and stuff like that, but.
Cooper DeJean
Right.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, it was cool. For real.
Reed Blankenship
They watched you grow and do all that. But, I mean, you got another job to do.
Cooper DeJean
Do you have any. Do you have any teams that you wanted, like, you wanted to go to or you thought you might not?
Quinion Mitchell
Eagles, man. That's.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, I like that.
Cooper DeJean
Like, that's a great answer.
Reed Blankenship
He put you on the spot. I would never do that.
Quinion Mitchell
That's crazy. Cool. That's crazy.
Cooper DeJean
He's born to be a Philadelphia Eagle.
Reed Blankenship
Going back to Toledo. You put up some stats, bro.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
And I. Dude, I didn't know you could catch the, like, the ball for real, you know.
Quinion Mitchell
That's crazy. That's crazy.
Cooper DeJean
You have four interceptions in one game.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know why he kept throwing the ball. But who was it?
Reed Blankenship
Who was it?
Quinion Mitchell
I forgot the quarterback name.
Reed Blankenship
But who was the team at least?
Cooper DeJean
Oh, niu.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. Niu.
Reed Blankenship
Niu.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, that's. And that's the game where I kind of like, you know, took off. You know, my confidence got way higher.
Reed Blankenship
I can only imagine.
Cooper DeJean
What year was that?
Quinion Mitchell
I think that was 2022.
Cooper DeJean
Your junior year?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
Was that your. Was that Your best year, you think? Did you have, like, you know, you have a breakout year, like, in high school. You have your junior years.
Cooper DeJean
Was your junior year, like, was your junior year the.
Reed Blankenship
Your breakout year?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, it was my breakout year. And then my last year was kind of like just my, like, double down year. Just like, locking in for real.
Cooper DeJean
Four interception in one game now, dude.
Reed Blankenship
You got to be on cloud nine.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
I watch this dude catch the ball. Try to catch the ball in practice.
Quinion Mitchell
I've been getting better, though. Don't do that. I've been getting better, bro.
Cooper DeJean
Hands are getting better.
Reed Blankenship
Working on that.
Cooper DeJean
We've been with Jeff Scott every day after practice.
Reed Blankenship
Doing something funny for that, though.
Cooper DeJean
Doing something. Let's get into the first year, me and Q's first year.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
What a class. When you first. When you first met me and Q, what. What were your thoughts?
Reed Blankenship
Dude, I thought y' all were just silent, like, dude, just. I have never in my life been around, like, guys that just didn't want to say a word. And I understand because I was in Yalls shoes, and I was like, you know what? I want to make it my job, my priority to come in here and say, what's up? These guys every day just so I can get some sort of personality out of these dudes. Coop came along faster than Q did.
Quinion Mitchell
But I was the other way around. I thought I came along more.
Reed Blankenship
I thought Coop was faster than you.
Quinion Mitchell
Oh, I don't know. I thought Coop was quiet like y' all both were.
Reed Blankenship
I mean, it's hard work. I mean, at first it was. It was tough.
Cooper DeJean
Q. Q has his moments.
Reed Blankenship
Q has his moments. But now, like, throughout the year, man, Q is one of the funniest dudes, bro.
Cooper DeJean
You're quiet.
Reed Blankenship
You're one of the funniest dudes. Like, I could be sitting in a db, like, today or whatever. I. I was sitting in a DB meeting, whatever. I just look back at Q, like, I just want to see you laugh, bro. But now y' all were. Y' all were both quiet, but y' all have.
Cooper DeJean
Grown. Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
Since. Yeah, it's cool.
Cooper DeJean
You come out of our shell a little bit.
Reed Blankenship
That's all, man. I mean, you're going to be who you want to be, and that's kind of just what our locker room is.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
You know, just be. You and Slay helped a lot, too, because Slay brought it out of you for sure.
Quinion Mitchell
No, he did. That's my God, man.
Cooper DeJean
We're trying to. Trying to find our. Our footing, you know?
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Get everything down and you know.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, that's the toughest part.
Cooper DeJean
What. What was your welcome to the NFL moment? Do you have one? Or you were just locked down all year?
Reed Blankenship
This is crazy.
Quinion Mitchell
No, it's probably last year when we was doing, like, box drill, honestly.
Cooper DeJean
Wow.
Quinion Mitchell
Like, box drill. I feel like box drill is crazy, bro.
Reed Blankenship
Man, we need to get a feeling. People. People don't understand the box stuff.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
I mean, I. I love it, to be honest.
Reed Blankenship
Do you?
Cooper DeJean
I really do.
Reed Blankenship
Do you?
Quinion Mitchell
You cap.
Cooper DeJean
Why wear my T shirt next episode.
Reed Blankenship
Why? Dude, that's the craziest T shirt ever. It's just four dots.
Cooper DeJean
People who don't know. Box drill is some. A conditioning drill that.
Reed Blankenship
We need a clip of it.
Cooper DeJean
Every single. Every single day after practice, you set up four cones in a box. Seven by seven, right?
Reed Blankenship
Is it seven by seven?
Cooper DeJean
Seven by seven, I think.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
You start off. You start in the middle of the box. It points in one cone. You run to that cone and back and then another cone and back, and.
Reed Blankenship
Then that's just the warm up.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
All around the world, dude. And then they can get you.
Cooper DeJean
You do that once or twice, and then they'll get you in the box and you'll just go from one to another to another to another.
Reed Blankenship
And it is a good condition.
Cooper DeJean
There's no limit on how long they. They can hold you there. C.P.
Reed Blankenship
He'S still taking it hard on you, bro.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, he. He crazy.
Reed Blankenship
You need to talk to him about it.
Cooper DeJean
JK was going crazy too, dude.
Reed Blankenship
He's always like that. Y' all don't understand.
Quinion Mitchell
When it was an indoor, I thought he was chill.
Reed Blankenship
Indoor is different. Yeah, you ain't got no space in the indoor.
Cooper DeJean
Was you with me in the indoor?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
Matt, bro, he's giving Mac some stuff today. Yeah, Mac for a while, but it'll reach out and bite your quads, man. So you're saying that's your welcome to the NFL moment?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, like last year, like, I was dead after that, bro.
Reed Blankenship
You didn't have any throughout the season or anything?
Cooper DeJean
What was it like? Like going up against AJ and. And Smitty for the first time, bro.
Reed Blankenship
You were. What was that talking.
Cooper DeJean
He was talking, dude. He was talking smacking during camp. It was fun.
Reed Blankenship
Straight to it.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. I was just trying to get my feet wet. Yeah. I just want to compete, bro.
Reed Blankenship
That's some of the best of the best, bro.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Quinion Mitchell
I just knew, like, you know, if I go out here and lock them boys down, like, you know, I'm be straight. For real. Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, you were. You were. Who. Do you know who gave you the nickname Queen Yanamo Bay?
Quinion Mitchell
I don't even know how that started.
Cooper DeJean
Me neither.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, sick, though.
Quinion Mitchell
It was like. I think it was Queen Yanimo and then I think it was like, Quintanamo Bay, so it's like two and they.
Cooper DeJean
What was your reaction, though, when you first heard that nickname? Now you got merch and everything.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, I feel like it's cool, man. Straight.
Reed Blankenship
Did somebody give you. Didn't somebody give you handcuffs?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, the sign of the la signer.
Reed Blankenship
Dude, that's hilarious. That's. That is a sick nickname, though.
Cooper DeJean
You get everybody. You guys make sure you guys go your Conanimo Bay merch.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, we're gonna drop some this summer and really for the season, so go get it.
Cooper DeJean
We put some pretty tough receivers this year. Who do you think you're. Do you want to name names? Do you want to do top three toughest receivers to cover, man to man? Yeah, I'll say they're most challenging.
Quinion Mitchell
Aj, Smitty, and I feel like me and Terry have some good battles, so. Yeah, I'll say them three for.
Reed Blankenship
You know, they're all vets, man.
Cooper DeJean
Being able to go up against those guys in practice every single day, I think that's what helps.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. You know, we had Jamar. Cd, Like. Yeah, you know, we have some guys.
Reed Blankenship
There's a list, bro.
Cooper DeJean
A lot of good guys. We've.
Quinion Mitchell
We played against guys this year, too, though, for sure. Like, it's going to be a good year for sure.
Cooper DeJean
Especially in our division.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
I mean, we got.
Reed Blankenship
We got a good. Like a really good group of guys.
Cooper DeJean
Cd.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Debo, Terry. Forgot about neighbors.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
So. But it's. Yeah, we got some. We got some guys in. In our conference. Let's talk about your first two. Your first two interceptions didn't come until. Waited all year.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
No, don't say wait all year.
Cooper DeJean
Wait it all year.
Reed Blankenship
It's for the last game of the year.
Cooper DeJean
He could have had at least five this year, though.
Reed Blankenship
Dude, you could have had one. Atlanta. Second game of the year.
Cooper DeJean
Second game of the season. You could have won the first game of the season, I think.
Reed Blankenship
Was it.
Quinion Mitchell
Nah, nah, I don't think so. No.
Reed Blankenship
Well, I know how to. Never mind. There's one he was talking so much smack out of grab.
Cooper DeJean
What was it feeling, though, like, after your first interception?
Quinion Mitchell
Man, I ain't sleep the whole night.
Cooper DeJean
Your phone was probably blowing up.
Quinion Mitchell
No, I want party. I was at the crib. Like, I was just up all night. Like, I couldn't even go to sleep. I was so excited.
Reed Blankenship
That was Green Bay, right?
Cooper DeJean
And then our. Our freaking celebration that I. Bro. Hand up accountability. That was on.
Reed Blankenship
Y' all were so off key, dude. That could have been so sick. When did y' all talk about that?
Quinion Mitchell
Had to be, like, Wednesday or Thursday later.
Reed Blankenship
Y' all didn't tell anybody?
Quinion Mitchell
No, we don't be telling nobody.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, we just do not.
Reed Blankenship
I could have worked on it a little better.
Cooper DeJean
I know. We didn't practice at one time, though. We just.
Reed Blankenship
We just sick, though.
Cooper DeJean
We went. You.
Reed Blankenship
Bro, when he kicked you in the stomach. Whatever Kicked you in the stomach. I don't know what you did, bro.
Cooper DeJean
I tried. I. I tried to set it up. He kicked me in the stomach, so I tried to bend over like, I was. Hey, bro. And then I.
Reed Blankenship
He jumped up.
Quinion Mitchell
I don't know what he tried to do, bro.
Cooper DeJean
He jumped in the air, and I was already on the ground.
Reed Blankenship
I was in tears when I saw that.
Quinion Mitchell
I rewatched. I'm like, cool. What are you doing? Tripping.
Reed Blankenship
Did he just jump on top?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, like. Cause he already on the. He already on the ground, so we.
Cooper DeJean
Needed to practice that more, though.
Reed Blankenship
Y' all need to do something. So, like, speaking of the. The handshakes, like, what. What did y' all do? The pregame? Like, I. I forgot to ask y' all that. Last year or this past.
Cooper DeJean
What is that pregame we come up with? We had a couple different handshakes, but.
Reed Blankenship
It'S the one like.
Cooper DeJean
That one was cute. Q came up with that one that way.
Quinion Mitchell
I don't know. We're just thinking on the.
Reed Blankenship
So you made it up?
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. We just do random on the spot.
Reed Blankenship
But y' all do. I feel like y' all.
Cooper DeJean
There's a picture of me and Q doing our handshake. We're, like, dancing, and Mr. Lurie's just standing there watching at the Super Wall.
Reed Blankenship
Oh, you gotta post that.
Cooper DeJean
I know. Well, we just be coming up with random stuff.
Reed Blankenship
I feel like y' all did the same one, though, over and over again.
Cooper DeJean
We were supposed to. We were supposed to do. This was on me. But after my touchdown in the super bowl, we were supposed to do sweet chin music. I got too excited. I forgot all about it.
Reed Blankenship
Didn't you just go straight to the bench?
Quinion Mitchell
I'm running up to him. What are you doing?
Cooper DeJean
Getting ready to do it. And I just.
Reed Blankenship
Sick.
Cooper DeJean
I know. It would have been sick.
Reed Blankenship
Oh, my gosh.
Cooper DeJean
Plus, we could have got our redemption back, but hopefully next season, we'll get up.
Reed Blankenship
Y' all gotta pull some wrestling. Move out. I know, like, 619. Dude, you gotta do the 619 somehow.
Cooper DeJean
Oh, we could swing around the. Swing around the flag for that, though. All right, we'll. We'll talk about this another time.
Reed Blankenship
That'll be sick, though.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. You know what was. What do you think your biggest lesson from your. Your first season in the NFL was?
Quinion Mitchell
I'd probably say just do something outside of football, honestly.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Quinion Mitchell
Like, y' all said, I'd just be chilling at the crib, so just. Probably just get out more and just do something fun. For real.
Cooper DeJean
What do you do outside?
Reed Blankenship
Please explain to everybody.
Quinion Mitchell
Bye. I'll be on YouTube all day.
Reed Blankenship
Like, what do you watch? So y' all both are YouTube?
Cooper DeJean
I love YouTube.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, y' all are YouTube kids.
Cooper DeJean
So, like, shout out YouTube.
Reed Blankenship
Why? What's so special about YouTube? I know it's got everything on there, but, like, what do you watch? You do. You watch, like, golf stuff?
Cooper DeJean
I watch golf videos. I watch, like, vlogs, podcasts. You could watch. Whatever.
Quinion Mitchell
I'd just be listening to music on YouTube. Yeah. Turn on a couple podcasts, but that's about it.
Reed Blankenship
Podcast?
Quinion Mitchell
What kind of podcast you do, you know, exciting mics.
Cooper DeJean
Love that.
Reed Blankenship
Thank you.
Quinion Mitchell
Come on.
Reed Blankenship
Love that bias. Thank you.
Quinion Mitchell
Come on, man.
Reed Blankenship
I like that.
Cooper DeJean
You just be chilling, though. Q's a chill guy, though. He'd just be chilling at the crib.
Quinion Mitchell
I'll just be chilling. Ain't nothing to do. For real?
Cooper DeJean
You don't got no pets or nothing?
Reed Blankenship
Did you have a dog or anything?
Quinion Mitchell
I had a cat in college, but.
Cooper DeJean
What's his name?
Quinion Mitchell
Bear.
Cooper DeJean
What kind of cat?
Quinion Mitchell
He's maxing cat, but it's kind of like my cat, too.
Cooper DeJean
So do you know what kind of cat it is?
Reed Blankenship
Like an orange cat?
Quinion Mitchell
No, it's like. It's, like, black. Like, blackish grayish, Something like that.
Cooper DeJean
Fluffy.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, fluffy.
Quinion Mitchell
Matt's, like, skinny.
Cooper DeJean
Okay. Oh, yeah. Let's talk about playing in the city of Philadelphia.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
What. What was your first impressions on the. On the fan base and in the city and in general, man, just great fans.
Quinion Mitchell
You know that Atlanta game when we was running out, and I was the first time.
Reed Blankenship
Running out? We got announced.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, running out. And when CD made that hit, bro, like, it was just live, and it was crazy. It gave me goosebumps. But I just feel like, you know, the fans. Great in the city. Great. For real. So, yeah.
Reed Blankenship
What was the attendance like at Toledo?
Quinion Mitchell
We played on, like, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Reed Blankenship
Oh, yeah. Mac Right.
Quinion Mitchell
It'll be, like, low attendance, but, you know, early in the season, like, we'll probably get, like, 25,000 or something like that.
Reed Blankenship
Wow.
Quinion Mitchell
On a good team. Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
What you get a year at middle 10?
Reed Blankenship
I don't know.
Quinion Mitchell
Not 25,000.
Reed Blankenship
Not 25. Maybe.
Cooper DeJean
Like, we got about. We got about 69,000 at Iowa.
Reed Blankenship
How much can it hold?
Cooper DeJean
69,000.
Reed Blankenship
Oh.
Cooper DeJean
I'm being serious. That's not fun being smart.
Reed Blankenship
I don't know.
Cooper DeJean
It actually is 69, 000, though. Do you have any, like, interesting. Like, when you're out in public, if you're out ever out in public, you said you would just be chilling.
Reed Blankenship
Do people recognize you?
Cooper DeJean
Do people recognize you?
Quinion Mitchell
I'm. I don't really think I'm noticeable. Like, I think, you know, more noticeable than me.
Cooper DeJean
I don't think I am. I think I. Bro, shut up. All right.
Quinion Mitchell
It's.
Cooper DeJean
It has. It's gotten. Yeah, people start. People to notice me more and more.
Reed Blankenship
People confused me with. With you all the time. Like, if they get really excited, I'm like, dude, they don't think I'm. They think I'm Cooper.
Cooper DeJean
I usually just walk around with, like, a hat on and.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, I usually have my hood on.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Quinion Mitchell
If I go to Target or something like that.
Cooper DeJean
You go grocery shopping at Target?
Quinion Mitchell
I can get stuff from Target.
Cooper DeJean
Like, do you cook at home or no?
Quinion Mitchell
Oh, no, no. I eat from the facility, so.
Reed Blankenship
Every day?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
So what's your. What's your pantry look like at home? Like, do you get snacks from Target?
Quinion Mitchell
Sometimes. It ain't really nothing in there, though, so.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. So what are you going for? Going to Target for, like, bad snack?
Quinion Mitchell
No, stuff that I need.
Reed Blankenship
Target's nice, though.
Cooper DeJean
I like Target.
Reed Blankenship
Target's nice.
Cooper DeJean
Target is nice.
Reed Blankenship
Acme is your store from the city to the shore, and the official supermarket of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Cooper DeJean
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Reed Blankenship
When you shop Acme online, you can count on pickup or delivery when you need it.
Cooper DeJean
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Reed Blankenship
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Cooper DeJean
You'll get the same prices, deals, and rewards as in store, so you get.
Reed Blankenship
The groceries you need when it's convenient.
Cooper DeJean
For you, and you can get your shopping done without ever leaving the house.
Reed Blankenship
Order for flash delivery or pickup and get your order in as soon as 30 minutes. Shop now at acme markets.com or in the Acme app.
Cooper DeJean
This is Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship and we personally want to thank Ace Hardware Home Services for partnering with exciting.
Reed Blankenship
Mics from our team. To the Ace team, we thank you for bringing helpful to the homes of our Philadelphia football fans.
Cooper DeJean
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Reed Blankenship
Now they're not just the helpful hardware folks, they're also the helpful home service and repair folks.
Cooper DeJean
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Reed Blankenship
Helpful home the help you love from the store now to your front door. From Philly to the Jersey Shore.
Cooper DeJean
Visit Ace Hardware Home services online@acehardwarehomeservices.com to get started on your next project. Welcome back. Two exciting mics presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals. Let's talk about the super bowl parade and the time, the time that you had at the. At the super bowl parade. Yeah, what. What was your favorite moment from. From the parade?
Reed Blankenship
Do you remember?
Cooper DeJean
If you remember?
Quinion Mitchell
I remember, like, I woke up at like 8:30. I went to Chick Fil A, like got me a little chicken biscuit. And after that I was just drinking for the whole day. But I just remember getting on the bus and then getting off the bus and then Avante and JB was trying to be there for me. But.
Reed Blankenship
Bro, you.
Cooper DeJean
That was my favorite. That was one of my favorite parts of the dude that's seeing that video after the parade, bro.
Reed Blankenship
Because you don't know. You don't know what's going on in that. You don't know who. When I didn't know where you were.
Quinion Mitchell
I was everywhere, bro. I was jumping in the crowd. Like, I just felt free.
Cooper DeJean
That's how I felt too.
Reed Blankenship
Running all over the place here, yelling in the microphone.
Quinion Mitchell
I'm glad I ain't saying nothing crazy.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, it sounded like you were about to say something and somebody held you back and you. Like that or you held yourself back.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. No, you're good. You were. You were in your right mind.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. Like, what was your thoughts when you were up on stage and you saw those people, though?
Reed Blankenship
I was nice.
Cooper DeJean
How was there this many people? Did you give a speech?
Quinion Mitchell
Nah, Like, I think I snuck on the mic like after everybody was leaving and like said a little something, but that was about it. I think.
Cooper DeJean
I do remember that actually. Do you remember what you said?
Quinion Mitchell
I Think I said, like, queen animal base. Everybody was leaving.
Reed Blankenship
Why didn't you go up there and speak?
Quinion Mitchell
I was scared.
Reed Blankenship
You were scared?
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
You. Your body at that point in time said, I'm scared.
Quinion Mitchell
Even after I was scared and I was like, on the steps and I really couldn't, like, move for.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, I was stuck.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. Let's talk about this upcoming season. What have you been focusing on or working on this offseason? You think that to help you take the next step.
Quinion Mitchell
I think the biggest thing, you know, technique. But, like, I think the biggest thing is just like learning defense, you know, CP and then Reed, you know, and then you like, all the moving parts to us. I know where my help is at. I know where I don't got help at.
Cooper DeJean
So I feel like it helps that we've been in defense for a year now.
Reed Blankenship
Makes a huge difference.
Cooper DeJean
Now we can. Now we can play off. I feel like we'll be able to play off each other even better.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. Like, now we don't even have to, like, be vocal with each other. Just make. Just look at each other. Kind of just know where I'm. Where I'm going to be. Where you're going to be. Where?
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
How you're going to play this. Like.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah. Then too, it's like. Like, I know what you think and you know what I'm thinking.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
That's all that matters. I mean, I mean, that goes with communication too, too. Especially, like, it's not like we just show up.
Cooper DeJean
And I feel like it helps that, you know, we got. We've been in the defense and we got young guys to teach now. We're kind of taking more of a. More of a leadership role now that, I mean, Slay and JB and Vonte and cd, Those guys are gone, so we gotta take more of a leadership role.
Reed Blankenship
And once you coach it, I mean. Yeah. You hear yourself saying it and it's like, oh, okay.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
Completely understand it now.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. And like, even just talking through the drills, like IQ talking to guys, like, through the drills and you know, what they can work on and what they can do better. So I think that helps us too. Which is.
Reed Blankenship
Which is always learning.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
That's one thing you're going to do. You're always going to learn.
Quinion Mitchell
Sure.
Cooper DeJean
Do you have any receivers that you're excited to play this year again? Or any new receivers that you're going to face this year that you're excited for? Do you. Do you even know?
Quinion Mitchell
No, I don't really know. I mean, I've Seen the schedule, but, like, I ain't really, like getting.
Reed Blankenship
You're just gonna show up and play.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah, I'm just gonna.
Reed Blankenship
Got that.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. I don't. I don't. I feel like you're not that type of guy, so.
Reed Blankenship
No, you just show up.
Cooper DeJean
Look a. Look ahead. But this past year, you were NFL defensive rookie of the year.
Quinion Mitchell
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Runner up. I thought you should have won it.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Everybody in Philadelphia, for sure.
Reed Blankenship
Everybody in Philly does.
Cooper DeJean
Do you have any. Do you have any personal goals for. For this year? You just ready to ball again?
Quinion Mitchell
Just ready to put in that work. For real. That's about it.
Reed Blankenship
Same old thing.
Cooper DeJean
Put in that work.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Rest will take care of itself.
Reed Blankenship
Keep doing what you're doing, dude. Yeah. Should say major. Shout out to Q Quinyanamo Bay for coming on episode four of the Exciting Mics. Man, you know we appreciate you and. Yeah, you know, love seeing you in the locker room every day playing. Was it the Shadow box or whatever.
Quinion Mitchell
I forgot. I don't know what it's called, but something. Shout out to P. Nick, though.
Reed Blankenship
Very.
Cooper DeJean
Make sure you go follow Q on social media at President. President with a 1 in there as the i2z President. How'd you come up with that name?
Quinion Mitchell
Because I'm the president.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, you are. Yeah, you are. Welcome back to another segment of our fan rapid fire questions. Today, our first guest, we have Eloy Delgado. You got a. You got a hard hitting question for us. What do you got? My question is, what is your Mount Rushmore of fast food burgers? Oh, Mount Rushmore fast food.
Reed Blankenship
I don't eat burgers anymore.
Cooper DeJean
Hold on, let's. Let's hear yours. I want to hear yours first. All right, I'm gonna go. Culver's. Oh, whataburger. In and out. I'll say Wendy's. Wendy's. All right.
Reed Blankenship
I've never had in and out, so I can't.
Cooper DeJean
You're. You're missing out, buddy.
Reed Blankenship
I'm sorry. There's no in and outs anywhere I've been.
Cooper DeJean
I'm gonna. All right, I'm gonna go. In and out's definitely on mine. In and out is on mine. Culver's is definitely on mine.
Reed Blankenship
Culver's is like that.
Cooper DeJean
Yes. I'm a. I'm a smash burger type of guy, so I like smash burgers. I'm gonna go. I think it's steak and shake.
Reed Blankenship
Really?
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. No, Steak and shake. That's a smash burger, right?
Reed Blankenship
Booty Booty.
Cooper DeJean
That's three. Steak and shake. In and Out Culver. And then what's another good burger?
Reed Blankenship
Five guys.
Cooper DeJean
Oh, I haven't five guys in a while. I'm going to go checkers and rallies. That's a great spot. Underrated. Underrated spot, y' all. They have really good burgers.
Reed Blankenship
I'm doing five guys. Burger King.
Cooper DeJean
What?
Reed Blankenship
Flame Grilled, bro. Flame grilled. I've never had Culver's. Five Guys. Burger King.
Cooper DeJean
McDonald's.
Reed Blankenship
Oh, Shake Shack. Thank you. Shake Shack. And dude, when they have like the.
Cooper DeJean
Secret sauce, what's your last one?
Reed Blankenship
I think there's this place local. I think it's called M2. M2O burgers, dude. They have this, like, secret sauce. It's so good. Burger King, though.
Cooper DeJean
Burger King is not a good burger.
Reed Blankenship
It's a sleeper, bro. Flame grilled.
Cooper DeJean
No, it's not. It's okay.
Reed Blankenship
Double Whopper cheese.
Quinion Mitchell
Okay.
Cooper DeJean
All right, brother. We appreciate you, man. Thanks for joining us. Appreciate y' all. That was a good question. Thank you. Yep. Yeah. Go Birds. Go Birds.
Reed Blankenship
Our second guest for our Q A is Mr. Connor Joyce. What do you got for us today?
Cooper DeJean
So with the schedule or the Madden release with Saquon, we're doing the backwards hurdle. What are some of the most iconic plays that you can think of that would be Madden cover worthy? Oh, from. From this season or just like all lifetime, One of the greatest plays and maybe you'll ever see. So the fact that it's a Madden cover, like, what are some other plays?
Reed Blankenship
Well, I was gonna say Odell's already. Odell was already on one, right?
Cooper DeJean
Odell was. I think that'd probably be one. Smitty's catch in the back of the end zone last year. Yeah, sick. The dagger in the Super Bowl.
Reed Blankenship
What about AJ Doing the point to it was against the Steelers.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, the point. Yeah, the tush push toast push. That'd be a sick man.
Reed Blankenship
Was it the.
Cooper DeJean
They should make that like a limited edition where Jalen.
Reed Blankenship
He stuck his tongue out. Cincinnati.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah. The touch. The touch push would be sick. BG strip sack. I'm thinking of like off Philly.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah.
Cooper DeJean
Philly plays.
Reed Blankenship
But BG strip sack yours and throw yours in there. I'll throw yours in there. Your. Your pick six.
Cooper DeJean
That picture will be sick on there.
Reed Blankenship
Be tough.
Cooper DeJean
The helmet catch. Yeah, I think that's. Do you got. What do you. Do you got any. I think you're forgetting one of the biggest plays of the year. It was your hit on Derrick Henry, man. Oh, I did forget about that.
Reed Blankenship
Think about that.
Cooper DeJean
I did forget about that.
Reed Blankenship
That would be A cool one, though.
Cooper DeJean
That would be sweet. That would be sweet. Appreciate.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. Appreciate you, man.
Cooper DeJean
Appreciate you. Go Birds.
Reed Blankenship
Go Birds.
Cooper DeJean
Thanks for joining us. Our next guest on a fan rapid fire Q and A, Angela Travato. Welcome to the show. What do you got for us today? Go Birds, baby. What do you got for us?
D
Tough one for you guys. Take your time to think on it. I can help if you need to shoot around some ideas. Know you like to get on the golf course here and there. So I'm wondering what would be both of your ideal foursomes to join you for a round?
Cooper DeJean
It's anybody, right?
Reed Blankenship
Tiger Woods, Tom Brady.
Cooper DeJean
Whoa. Yeah, go ahead.
Reed Blankenship
Tiger Woods. Tom Brady. Oh, my gosh. I'm blanking on him. Blanking on him. He has a ice tea.
Cooper DeJean
John Daly.
Reed Blankenship
John Daly.
Cooper DeJean
Arnold Palmer.
Reed Blankenship
No, John.
Cooper DeJean
John Daly.
Reed Blankenship
And then Scotty. Scotty Scheffler.
Cooper DeJean
Scotty Scheffler.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah. Hey, that's a group right there.
Cooper DeJean
That is squad.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, they did the squad.
Cooper DeJean
While I think, do you have a dream Golf 4 song?
D
Honestly, the first person I'm thinking of is Marshawn Lynch. I want him driving.
Cooper DeJean
Oh, my God. That's actually really good.
Reed Blankenship
He'll be on Hennessy.
D
I'd say probably Charles Barkley also. Great time on the golf course. It seems like I'm not necessarily going for great. I'm going for fun, but that's just.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, well, John Daly's good.
Cooper DeJean
So both. Wait, if it's a foursome, it's always only three, right? Yeah.
Reed Blankenship
You pick four, I pick four. I can drive.
Cooper DeJean
Unless you don't want to play.
Reed Blankenship
I can caddy.
Cooper DeJean
You don't want to play. So I'm gonna pick three because I want to play golf with these guys. Mine would have to be LeBron James, bro. Thing is, Steph would.
Reed Blankenship
He's pretty good.
Cooper DeJean
Steph would beat my ass. So I. I wouldn't have fun with LeBron in golf. I don't know if LeBron's a big golf guy, but I'd like to play golf with him. Tiger woods and Tom Brady, probably.
Reed Blankenship
Yeah, pretty much.
Cooper DeJean
LeBron, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady and me.
Reed Blankenship
Throw four in there.
Cooper DeJean
Throw four like what I did.
D
You're driving the cart with Marshawn.
Cooper DeJean
Yeah, we'll throw Michael Jordan in there. Oh, he is a good golfer, but I think it'd be fun to. To see him and LeBron go at it. And Tiger.
D
They're not good. Then you can kind of poke fun, and you're never gonna get to do that.
Cooper DeJean
Exactly. Pretty much exactly.
Reed Blankenship
Well, thank you.
Cooper DeJean
Thank you. That was a great question.
Reed Blankenship
That was a really good question.
Cooper DeJean
Appreciate that.
Reed Blankenship
Thank you.
Cooper DeJean
Thanks for joining us. Appreciate you.
D
Go birds.
Cooper DeJean
Go birds. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Exciting Mics.
Reed Blankenship
Remember to, like, comment and subscribe on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast.
Cooper DeJean
Drop your questions in the comment section below and you could be joining us on the show next week to ask us live in the episode.
Reed Blankenship
We appreciate your love and support and we'll see you next week.
Title: Quinyon Mitchell on Rookie Year, Eagles Super Bowl, Saquon 99 Club & More
Hosts: Reed Blankenship & Cooper DeJean
Guest: Quinyon Mitchell
Release Date: June 5, 2025
The episode kicks off with the hosts reminiscing about their experiences during the Super Bowl parade. Quinyon Mitchell shares his vivid memories, highlighting the overwhelming sense of freedom and exhilaration he felt amidst the crowd.
Quinyon Mitchell [00:06]: "I was everywhere, bro. I was jumping in the crowd. Like, I just felt free."
Cooper and Reed echo these sentiments, expressing their favorite moments from the parade and the chaotic joy of celebrating their championship win.
Cooper DeJean discusses his participation in a celebrity basketball game, revealing a humorous injury during a Home Run Derby.
Cooper DeJean [03:00]: "I didn't have a good showing in the Home Run Derby... I hit zero home runs."
Reed shares details about hosting a celebrity softball game in Des Moines, Iowa, supporting the local children's hospital and the University of Iowa football program. The event saw a massive turnout of approximately 10,000 attendees.
Cooper DeJean [01:55]: "We put on a celebrity softball game in Des Moines, Iowa... I think there was around 10,000 people."
The conversation shifts to Saquon Barkley's exciting news about being featured on the Madden video game cover, leading to playful banter about the authenticity of the announcement.
Reed Blankenship [05:12]: "You know that's not real."
The hosts humorously debate the likelihood of such an iconic move, while also celebrating Saquon's recent achievement of joining the prestigious 99 Club, marked by a diamond chain.
Quinion Mitchell [06:03]: "He got a diamond chain for that too, didn't he?"
Quinyon Mitchell delves into his upbringing in Williston, Florida, emphasizing the tight-knit community where everyone knew each other. Inspired by his father, who started a youth football team, Quinyon began playing football at the age of five.
Quinion Mitchell [11:46]: "I started playing football when I was, like, six or seven."
Mitchell recounts his recruitment journey, ultimately choosing the University of Toledo due to the unwavering support from the coaching staff despite initial setbacks like having to sit out six months post-graduation.
Quinion Mitchell [13:11]: "So when I was time for me to go, that's why I chose Toledo."
Highlighting his breakout junior year in 2022, Quinyon shares memorable moments, including a game against NIU where he secured four interceptions, significantly boosting his confidence.
Quinion Mitchell [26:38]: "I have four interceptions in one game."
Quinyon describes the emotional yet calm experience of Draft Day, being drafted in the early rounds by the Philadelphia Eagles, and his aspirations to play alongside seasoned players like Slay and JB.
Quinion Mitchell [24:44]: "I was calm, bro. Like, I didn't even cry."
Reflecting on his rookie season, Quinyon emphasizes the importance of balancing life outside football and honing defensive techniques. He acknowledges the challenges of playing in the NFL and the need for continuous learning and adaptation.
Quinion Mitchell [36:07]: "I'd probably say just do something outside of football, honestly."
Quinyon appreciates the passionate fan base in Philadelphia and discusses the camaraderie and competitive spirit within the team. He also touches on the nickname "Quinyanamo Bay," which originated from teammates attempting to merge his name with the notorious Quirinamo Bay.
Quinion Mitchell [31:31]: "Because I'm the president."
The hosts engage with fan-submitted questions, creating an interactive and entertaining segment.
Fans ask the trio to list their top fast-food burgers. Cooper champions Culver's, Whataburger, In-N-Out, and Wendy's, while Reed prefers In-N-Out, Culver's, Steak 'n Shake, and Burger King.
Cooper DeJean [46:06]: "Culver's. Oh, Whataburger. In and Out. I'll say Wendy's."
Responding to a fan's curiosity about their dream golf partners, Cooper mentions legends like Tiger Woods and Tom Brady, alongside contemporary stars like Scotty Scheffler. Reed adds his preference for playing with Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, and LeBron James.
Reed Blankenship [50:16]: "Tiger Woods, Tom Brady."
The episode wraps up with the hosts expressing gratitude towards Quinyon Mitchell for joining them. They encourage listeners to engage with the podcast by subscribing, commenting, and sharing, ensuring fans remain connected and involved in future episodes.
Reed Blankenship [52:46]: "We appreciate your love and support and we'll see you next week."
Notable Quotes:
This episode of Exciting Mics offers an in-depth look into Quinyon Mitchell's journey from a small-town football enthusiast to an NFL defensive back with the Philadelphia Eagles. Through candid conversations, memorable anecdotes, and engaging fan interactions, Cooper and Reed provide listeners with a comprehensive and entertaining narrative of life as a professional athlete.