When it comes to everyone’s high school senior year, if they play a sport, they want to be able to compete one last time with their teammates before going off to college.

Sadly, that did not happen for the 6-foot-1, 3-star running back from Fort Lauderdale [FL] Tovani Mizell. He had to be forced to miss his last high school football season because of a serious injury he sustained during autumn camp.

Prior to the commencement of fall camp, Mizell had made a June commitment to Kentucky. Now that he wasn’t under pressure to choose a school, Mizell could focus on his academic performance in his final year and his on-field success.

Mizell tore his ACL during fall camp, but he was unaware of it at the time as the MRI wasn’t returned for another week. Thinking he was simply having a sprain, he went on to practice, which caused him to exacerbate his knee injury once more, this time to a much higher degree.

“During fall camp last year, I was injured making a play,” Mizell tells A Sea of Blue. “I didn’t realize how bad until I received the MRI back, which was a week later. I thought it was just a sprain, so I continued practicing. When the results finally came back, it ended up being a torn ACL and Meniscus. I received surgery on September 6th, 2023.”

After receiving surgery, he started to rehab in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale with the goal of reaching the timeline that Adrian Peterson did when he tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee.

“I was doing therapy three times a week,” Mizell says. “In the initial phase, it was to make sure I had flexion and extension and to manage any swelling. When the stitches came out, the hard work began, and I have been going difficult ever since. My goal was to achieve all of Adrian Peterson’s milestones and follow his schedule.

Mizell’s faith and his resolve to recover and become a better version of himself powered him through his injury recovery. Kentucky might have withdrawn Mizell’s offer because of his injuries and his rehabilitation process, but they stood by him for the day when he was able to fulfill his ambition of being an NFL player.

“They gave me the reassurance that they supported their commitment to me and believed in me no matter what,” Mizell adds. “Kentucky staff support gave me extra motivation to know that I can still pursue my dreams.”

As for where Mizell is at physically and mentally from his injury, he said this.

“I am bigger, faster, and stronger than I was before the injury,” Mizell said. “Throughout the whole process I pushed myself and lifted and trained as if I wasn’t hurt. In my mind I viewed it as rest and recovery as opposed to rehabilitation. I wanted to take this time to prepare my body for the next level.”

Mizell plans to finish his senior year by doing track and field before showing up at Kentucky’s campus.

“I want to finish my track and field season before I come to campus, so I’m going to keep working out and getting stronger and faster,” Mizell states.

Trying to get on the field and make an early impression as a true freshman is Mizell’s first main objective at Kentucky.

Mizell states, “I’m just excited to get on the field and do what I have to do to start as a true freshman.”

In addition, he wishes to express his gratitude to the Kentucky supporters for their unwavering support during his injury recovery.

“The BBN is incredible, and we value their assistance,” Mizell said.