Butcher: Who is Adonai Mitchell?
Butcher: Who is Adonai Mitchell?
Contributed by Brian Butcher
Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) and Georgia defensive back Ameer Speed (9) during G-Day on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. (Photo by Mackenzie Miles)
At the end of the first half of G-Day, the University of Georgia’s annual spring scrimmage, freshman wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught a bullet in stride, which was thrown from quarterback JT Daniels for a 24-yard touchdown.
This catch capped a seven-catch, 105-yard performance for the 6-foot-4 190-pound early enrollee. If you watched G-Day, you may have heard Mitchell’s name for the first time, but likely not for the last.
“He’s a competitor, he makes plays down the field,” head coach Kirby Smart during his postgame press conference. “For a guy that just enrolled, that just got here, he did a good job.”
Mitchell hails from Missouri City, Texas, but played high school ball in both the Lone Star state and in Nashville, Tennessee. His name may be unfamiliar to Georgia fans as he was a three-star recruit in a class full of four and five-star players. During his senior year of high school, he contributed 49 catches, 795 yards, and 11 touchdowns. While his numbers are nothing to scoff at, they aren’t off the charts either.
Yet, former UGA wide receiver Terrence Edwards saw performances like this coming. Edwards runs a training academy for receivers and tight ends and Mitchell was a participant. Just a few weeks before G-Day, Edwards tweeted out “…Here’s a tidbit for you. Adonai Mitchell is going to shock a lot of [people].”
Adonai, who sometimes goes by “AD”, has been putting in work through Edwards’ academy and extra throwing sessions with the team.
“I’m definitely a fan of AD,” Daniels said. “One thing I can say that jumped out at me when he first got here, and I had my throwing sessions with the receivers, he was a consistent show. He was there every time and liked to run.”
It appears those extra throwing sessions are already paying off with the chemistry between the pair.
After the game, both veteran wide receiver Kearis Jackson and Smart praised Mitchell for his performance, while also noting he still has a lot of room to grow.
Jackson noted, “AD has a lot of potential to be one of the best freshman receivers in this year. He’s very athletic, things like that. He still has room for improvement conditioning-wise, being able to sustain. He did put on a showcase today, but there’s still room for improvement.”
Just how much stock can UGA place in Michell’s performance at G-Day?
Well, it is hard to say. UGA has had receivers like Johnathan Rumph and Matt Landers have notable performances at G-Day, only to disappoint throughout their careers.
Once the Dawgs get healthy at receiver, it may be hard for Mitchell to see the field this season. Keep in mind, George Pickens, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Dominick Blaylock and Jermaine Burton did not play on Saturday due to injuries. The latter three should be available for UGA’s opener against Clemson.
While Mitchell may have to wait a little longer before he is a feature receiver for the Dawgs, don’t forget his name. If today is any indication of what is to come, Mitchell has an exciting career ahead of him in the red and black.
Here is the video from Smart’s postgame press conference: