Mitchell played football for the Beaumont Drillers while at Blinn College. After not being accepted for a National Football League combine, he focused on a career in wrestling and participated in the fourth season of "Tough Enough". Despite not winning, he signed a developmental contract with WWE, and was assigned to their developmental territory, Deep South Wrestling, where he wrestled as "Big Time" Nick Mitchell. He was later moved to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) where he joined the Spirit Squad faction. After the Spirit Squad were called up to the "Raw" roster, they debuted in January 2006, and won the World Tag Team Championship three months later. Following the split of the team, Mitchell was released from his WWE contract in May 2007. Mitchell then began a career in mixed martial arts.