William & Mary Lands Highest Rated FCS Recruit In Nation

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(Photo Courtesy William & Mary athletics)William & Mary's program has to be stoked after landing the No. 1 rated recruit in the FCS so far, QB Shon Mitchell. Brian McLaughlin @BrianMacWriter

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's early in the 2017 recruiting cycle--but the members of William & Mary football program must be happy. The Tribe just landed the highest-rated recruit in the FCS so far: QB Shon Mitchell. ​

Going by the 247Sports.com composite, which averages all services, Mitchell is in elite company with Harvard commit Eric Wilson, Eastern Kentucky's Ethan Bradds and Ray Coggins, North Dakota State's Holden Hotchkiss and Villanova's Kyle McCloskey as some of the most highly rated pledges in the FCS.

Mitchell (6-0/190) is rated above them all, though. Virginia Tech and Wake Forest had reportedly offers him scholarships, and Nebraska had shown strong interest. He's out of the talent-rich Hampton Roads area of Virginia--powerhouse Oscar Smith HS to be exact.

When talking in the spring, the three-star rated QB told us he loved the idea of playing for the Tribe. He said he knows he'll be playing in big games and he's aware of the kind of talent the program produces (sixth NFL Draft pick since 2009 was selected earlier this year--Deandre Houston-Carson). Mitchell also has enjoyed getting to know head coach Jimmye Laycock--who is the dean of FCS coaching as he has been with the Tribe since 1980. Mitchell has thrown for more than 8,000 yards and 100 TDs in his three-year prep career so far.

"Everything they have to offer fits me perfectly," Mitchell told HERO Sports a month ago. "I take pride in my education and William & Mary has one of the best education systems around. I have a great relationship with Coach (Kevin) Rogers. The staff keeps everything honest and open with me. I know that I am one of their top priorities. I love their style of offense; I believe that it fits me perfectly and it would give me a good opportunity to make it at the next level."

Mitchell is the second known William & Mary commitment and joins fellow Chesepeake, Va. native Clint Marshall--a physical offensive lineman who stands 6-foot-4, 300 pounds.

"I definitely love the football atmosphere and educational opportunity of going to William & Mary," Marshall told HERO Sports. "I have no doubt that the competition in the CAA is top tier as the CAA is one of the best conferences in the nation at the FCS level. I think Coach Laycock is one of the best at what he does, and I have nothing but the highest respect for him."