Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Brandon Mitchell is giving basketball another try.

Mitchell, the reserve Arkansas quarterback, will try to walk on the Razorbacks. He was on the bench for Saturday’s victory against LSU and will begin working out with the team this week.

Coach Mike Anderson said he is waiting to see what Mitchell can add and if the junior will travel with the team for Tuesday's 8 p.m. game against Kentucky. Mitchell has played small forward in the past, but is still being evaluated.

"From what I’ve seen he’s very athletic, I know that, very athletic," Anderson said. "He’s one of those guys he wants to do it bad, I tell you what. He really wants to do it bad.”

Football Coach Bobby Petrino said through a spokesman Mitchell (6-4, 230) has his blessing to play basketball. Mitchell, Petrino said, remains on the football team.

This isn’t the first time for Mitchell to give Hog hoops a try. He spent a brief time on the team in 2009, but returned to football after four games.

Multiple schools recruited Mitchell for basketball out of high school. He held a scholarship offer to LSU prior to switching his focus to football and committing to Arkansas.

If nothing else Mitchell would give the Razorbacks another athletic body off the bench and a guy who could give the team's top dunkers a run for their money [video of Mitchell winning the intramural dunk contest can be viewed here].

Mitchell appeared in nine football games in 2011 as the primary backup to Tyler Wilson. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns, while running for two more scores.

Wilson announced on Friday that he returning for his senior football season.