The Westlake Lions are off to a roaring 3-0 start, and their offense has been putting up nearly 50 points per game. A major key to that success is the play up front, anchored by junior left tackle PJ Mitchell.
At 6’2″, 295 lbs., with a massive 79-inch wingspan, Mitchell is quickly becoming a foundational piece for the undefeated Lions and a major problem for opposing pass rushers.
“The start of junior year is going great, and offensively we’re playing great football, putting up big numbers back to back,” Mitchell noted. “As an offensive line, we’re playing hard, and it’s showing up on the stat sheet.”
Coming off a strong first three games where Mitchell was recently named OL of the Week, the 2028 OL talked about his punishing mentality and strong faith, which is paying dividends for the high-powered Westlake offense.
“My mindset when I step on the field is firstly to play to glorify my lord and savior Jesus Christ, and secondly to take away the person lined up in front of me’s will to play the game of football,” Mitchell said.
The junior acknowledged that while he was a solid contributor last fall, he has taken his technique and aggression to an entirely new level this season.
“Where I improved the most since last year was my ability to finish blocks and play violently,” he said. “Last year I held my own, but this year I’m starting to dominate.”
For the remainder of the season, Mitchell has set a high bar for his individual production as Westlake chases a championship. He outlined clear targets: “My goals for this season are to make 1st-team All-Region, make All-State, give up zero sacks, and get 3 or more knockdowns every game.”
College programs are definitely taking notice of his physical play. The 2028 OL has offers from Bowling Green, Samford, and Wake Forest. He mentioned that programs like App State, USF, Louisville, Coastal Carolina, and Liberty have also reached out.
The standout lineman plans to take gameday visits to all of those programs, along with in-state trips to Georgia Southern and Georgia State, adding that he will “probably schedule a few more later down the line.”
Mitchell’s incredible length gives him an inherent advantage over defenders, which allows him to stay engaged and control leverage. No doubt, his recruiting stock should continue to rise as the Lions push through their schedule, so be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X to hear more on Mitchell and standout players across the state of Georgia.
