Former Alabama defensive back Tony Mitchell has committed to Mississippi State, he announced late Thursday.

Mitchell, a star at Thompson High School in Alabaster, played in seven games for the Crimson Tide as a true freshman in 2023. He transferred in April to East Mississippi Community College and will have two seasons of eligibility at MSU beginning in 2025.

Mitchell was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2023 out of Thompson, but ran into off-field issues before he ever played in a game at Alabama. In March of that year, he was arrested after a high-speed chase in Florida while driving a car containing 226 grams of marijuana, about $7,000 in cash, a scale and a loaded gun (Mitchell’s passenger, Christophere Lewis of Valley Grand, was arrested along with him).

Mitchell pleaded no contest to felony marijuana possession, and received three years of probation and drug counseling. He was indefinitely suspended by head coach Nick Saban for spring practice, but returned to the team over the summer.

Mitchell played mostly on special teams for the Crimson Tide in 2023, totaling one tackle. He participated in 2024 spring practice at Alabama, then entered the transfer portal.