Auburn players react to shooting death of Jakell Mitchell

AUBURN -- Deshaun Davis was tired and didn't want to continue.

Jakell Mitchell wouldn't allow his teammate to quit at the exercise.

"Here, lean on me!" Davis recalled Mitchell saying. "He literally got behind me and pushed me through the line the last 2 reps!"

The act of camaraderie was among the many stories and messages of support, grief and sadness shared by Auburn's football coaches and players via social media in the wake of Mitchell's death following a shooting at an apartment complex near the campus early Sunday morning.

Like Mitchell, Davis was redshirting as a freshman this season after coming off a knee injury.

"That day I realized Jakell Mitchell was someone I could depend on!" Davis wrote via Instagram. "Someone I could look to when I needed strength. That extra push.

"You were so amped for spring ball/next season. Your love for the game was so special man. Your IG name says it all "@_refuse2lose_" You weren't going to be denied that starting spot. I know I was gone hear your name called for 6 on Saturdays. But God had a bigger plan. He needed you scoring touchdowns for HIS team! Still can't believe it but I don't question God!"

Quarterback Sean White, also redshirting as a freshman, was one of Mitchell's closest friends on the team, visiting his family's Opelika home "all the time," according to Mario Mitchell.

"13 to 31...We said were going to hear those numbers at Jordan-hare more times than people could count," White, No. 13, wrote on Twitter. "To have it all taken away from him..."

Mitchell, 18, was expected to compete for substantial playing time at tight end and H-back next season following the departures of C.J. Uzomah and Brandon Fulse.

Uzomah was among the many to offer his condolences.

"Heavy hearts," he tweeted. "Rest In Peace lil bro."

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said he was "devastated and saddened" by Mitchell's death, which athletic director Jay Jacobs called a "terrible tragedy," in statements released Sunday.

Other members of the coaching staff voiced their emotions as well.

"My heart is very saddened by the loss of Jakell!" tight ends coach Scott Fountain tweeted. "My Prayers are with his Mom, Dad and little Brother. May God give them peace."

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, who recruited Mitchell from nearby Opelika High School, said he was "devastated and crushed" by the news.

"Lost a young man too soon with so much promise," Lashlee tweeted.

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A collection of additional remarks by Auburn's coaches and several players is below: