Prospect Spotlight: Mitchell Vener – South St. Paul (2022)

It looked like South St. Paul’s [player_tooltip player_id="143257" first="Mitchell" last="Vener"] was set up to become a fixture in the Packers’ football program as a freshman. He started on the varsity as a freshman. Then, injuries began to set in. Now, healthy for the first time in two years, Vener is ready to make up for a lot of lost time as a senior. "I played outside linebacker as a freshman," Vener said. "Last year, I was going to play an outside linebacker position, and that position is similar to a defensive end (which he will be playing as a senior). I played a little bit of defensive end as a sophomore." Vener has tried to stay positive during his multiple injuries. "When I first hurt my knee, it happened as a sophomore. I wasn’t going to be able to play with my team at the end of the season. I felt like I was letting my teammates down. We lost in sections, and I felt it could have been different if I was out there. The next year, I hurt it again, and I was really sad about it because I couldn’t play during my junior year. I realized I had to do what I had to do to be able to get back and play my senior year, so I got after it." To get back to playing shape meant a lot of rehab. "I did a lot of single-leg squats, a lot of single-leg iso-holds, single-leg dumbbell squats – stuff like that. After four to six months, I could start running and stuff. It was long." Just when he thought he was back, Vener got hurt yet again. "I got back to practice after my ACL, and I tore my meniscus. I had to get that cleaned up. I am just getting back (Thursday) after four more weeks of rehab. I am close to one hundred percent. I am back to practice, and everything is feeling pretty good." The doctors have given the senior as clean a bill of health as they can. "My tests look good, and we came to the conclusion that I am going to play Week One. The doctors are telling me not to hold back. If I hold back, there is a better chance to tear it. I feel like if I go out there 100 percent and play, I should be just fine." Vener expects to be in the Packers’ starting lineup all season. "Right now, I will be starting at strong-side or weak-side defensive end; we haven’t made a final decision yet," Vener told prepredzonemn.com. "I was going to play strong-side, but when I went down (four weeks ago), they moved a new guy into the strong-side spot, and he did pretty well, so the coaches don’t know where they want to play me." Vener was mainly a linebacker until this season. "I just had to get used to getting my hands on people and being up close and personal with guys (at defensive end). I think my strengths are shedding blocks and tackling. I like to think I am a pretty good pass rusher." During his rehab, the medical staff ensured Vener got in as much football-type work as possible. "The trainers were good at incorporating football into my workouts. I would run some routes or hit a bag – stuff like that. Most of the time, it was getting me back to sprinting and cutting." Despite his injuries, the 6’2" 215-pound Vener has caught the eye of a few college programs. "Before I tore my meniscus again – around June, I went on a junior day to North Dakota State. I have had contact with Yale and St. Thomas too." With interest from some big colleges after just playing a handful of games, think of how much interest Vener will receive if he can stay healthy for an entire year.