Tony Mitchell's dad says son has been reinstated at Alabama following suspension

Alabama freshman Tony Mitchell appears to have been reinstated and cleared to return to team activities, according to a post from his father on social media. He had been suspended following his arrest on drug charges.

Mitchell was arrested in March and Nick Saban promptly announced his suspension from team activities. According to police, he traveled more than 141 miles per hour to avoid them before his arrest. He pleaded no contest to a felony marijuana charge, and last week, he was sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

The police report stated that police first noticed Mitchell driving a Dodge Challenger traveling at 78 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone. However, when police activated their lights to initiate a traffic stop, Mitchell claimed that the passenger in the vehicle, Christophere Lewis, told him to “punch it.” Upon stopping Mitchell, police seized $7,000 in cash, nearly half a pound of marijuana, scales and a gun, which Mitchell denied was his. Lewis received an additional charge for possessing a firearm without a permit.

Saban directly addressed Mitchell’s suspension during a press conference in March and confirmed the freshman safety was suspended from team activities.

“Tony Mitchell has been suspended from the team and all team activities until we gather more information on the situation and what his legal circumstance is,” Saban said. “Everybody has the opportunity to make choices and decisions. There’s no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“You got to be responsible for who you’re with, who you’re around, and what you do. Who you associate yourself with and the situation you put yourself in. It is what it is but there is cause and effect when you make choices and decisions that put you in bad situations.”

Mitchell is preparing for his freshman year at Alabama and was a key part of the Crimson Tide’s highly toured recruiting class, which came in at No. 1 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. He was a four-star recruit and the No. 116 overall player from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. An Alabaster, Ala. native, he was also the No. 10-ranked safety and the No. 12 recruit in the state of Alabama.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.