Georgia wide receiver AD Mitchell enters transfer portal
Georgia wide receiver AD Mitchell enters transfer portal
ATHENS — Georgia wide receiver AD Mitchell entered the NCAA transport portal Wednesday.
Mitchell entered the 2022 season looking to be the X-factor at wideout in the Bulldogs’ offense. However, an ankle injury sidelined him for most of his sophomore year.
Per UGASports.com, Mitchell intended to enter his name in the portal earlier this week. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound pass-catcher still has two years of eligibility left at the college level. However, he could have three years left if the NCAA grants him a medical redshirt.
“He’s one of the best receivers in the country, if not the best,” Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett said on Oct. 24. “I’ve got an immense amount of trust in him. What he does, what he brings to the table from a ball skills standpoint, twitch standpoint, strength, physicality, blocking, route running. We’ve missed him. I hope we get him back.”
Despite playing in only six games during the 2022 season Mitchell had a huge impact for the Bulldogs. He caught nine passes for 134 yards and three TDs as a sophomore. His biggest game was a three-catch, 43-yard, and one-score performance against Ohio State.
Mitchell’s first real game back from injury was against LSU in the SEC Championship on Dec. 4. He played a few snaps versus Auburn in October, but re-aggravated his ankle.
“He’s worked so hard to get back and tried so hard to have a role. I thought he did a good job emotionally last night, not being up and down because he’s a kid that wants to do,” Smart said on Dec. 4. “He’s so energetic, he wants to do well and sometimes he’s pressed. Last night he settled into the flow of the game nicely, and it was nice to get him out there.”
As a freshman, Mitchell hauled in 29 catches for 426 yards and four TDs. He was clutch in Georgia’s two post-season games in 2021. Mitchell caught four passes for 84 yards with two scores against Michigan and Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff.
Mitchell signed with Georgia as a three-star in its 2021 recruiting haul. He was originally from Missouri City, TX., but moved to Antioch, TN., for his senior year of high school.
The rising junior is the second wide receiver to enter the transfer portal for Georgia in 2023. Fourth-year junior Dom Blaylock announced his plans to leave the program earlier this week. Also, senior Kearis Jackson declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.
However, the Bulldogs did get good news on Tuesday as Ladd McConkey intends to return.
Georgia signed three receivers in its 2022 recruiting class: Yazeed Haynes, Tyler Williams, and Anthony Evans. The Bulldogs also received commitments from transfers Dominic Lovett (Missouri) and RaRa Thomas (Mississippi State) in December.
Mitchell’s freshman year highlights: