DL Traevon Mitchell Granted Temporary Eligibility Relief Ahead of Baylor’s Season Opener

South Florida transfer defensive lineman Traevon Mitchell was granted a temporary restraining order by a McLennan County judge on Wednesday, paving the way for Mitchell to be eligible for at least the first two weeks of Baylor football’s season; KWTX first reported the story.

Mitchell has been battling to get a fifth year of eligibility since entering the transfer portal this past winter and going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. As of right now, Judge Alan Bennett of Waco’s 474th State District Court set Mitchell’s hearing to seek a temporary injunction for Sept. 15.

In late July, a Colorado judge granted a class-wide preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to declare all athletes who graduated from high school in 2022 and exhausted their four seasons of eligibility this spring eligible for the 2026-27 athletic year.

However, an appeals court stayed the injunction, and Mitchell has since filed a lawsuit against the NCAA. He committed to the Bears on Aug. 12 and has remained listed on Baylor’s roster. He has also been practicing despite being in eligibility limbo.

Fellow defensive lineman, Indiana transfer Hosea Wheeler, was able to get a temporary injunction for a sixth season of eligibility from Judge Ryan Luna in McLennan County on Aug. 11.

Mitchell posted 29 tackles, six for loss and two sacks during the 2025 season for the Bulls. Per Pro Football Focus, Mitchell was ranked third among defensive linemen in the AAC with an 80.2 defensive grade and an 82.3 run defense grade. Mitchell also finished with 33 quarterback pressures, which ranked third among defensive linemen in the AAC.

In 2024, Mitchell was named Gulf South Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year at West Florida. The Waldorf, Maryland, native spent the first two seasons of his college career at Chowan University.