Adonai Mitchell describes what he has learned so far about the NFL
Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver AD Mitchell is living his dream following the draft. After the team selected him in the second round, the former Texas star got right to work, first with rookie minicamp then OTAs and minicamp. During minicamp, he opened up to reporters about the learning curve he’s trying to overcome so far before his first season in the league.
“Man, the biggest learning curve is probably just like… aside from all the stuff they throw at us on a daily basis as far as plays and stuff, it’s just kind of like the competition and the spirit of everything,” Mitchell said. “Everything is fast. It’s the league of the best so everybody’s good, everybody’s got something to them, and everybody learns really fast.
“So if I do a move on ’em on rep one, I can’t do that move no more, for like the rest of the day. It’s been fun though. Just competing with everyone and getting in with the vets. It’s been fun.”
The Colts are challenging Mitchell and his fellow rookies daily, but even with the obstacles to navigate and hoops to jump through, the former Longhorn is having the time of his life.
“I feel like all players can attest to this but I just feel like I’m living my dream,” he said. “I’m in an environment that I really enjoy and there’s a lot of great people around me. Just, aside from the whole team, the receiving room, I’m with them every day and I’m enjoying being around them.”
Mitchell excited to catch passes from Anthony Richardson
During OTAs, Mitchell got his first look at quarterback Anthony Richardson. Though the former Florida Gator spent most of his rookie season injured, he flashed enough to get his teammates amped up for his second season.
Richardson’s physical traits jump off the page to the rookie receiver. Built like a linebacker with the speed of a wide receiver and the skillset of a quarterback, there’s little that No. 5 can’t do on the football field.
“Man that dude’s a freak, I’ll tell you that,” Mitchell said. “He’s like a created player, he’s like one of those players that could legit do anything on the field. You talk about just arm strength, crazy arm strength. This man can roll right, throw on the opposite hash to the left, like it’s a lot of stuff I ain’t seen before.”
Richardson’s rookie season was cut short after just four games when he suffered a grade three AC joint sprain that required surgery. But in his four games under center for the Colts he threw for 577 yards, rushed for 136 yards, and scored seven total touchdowns between the air and the ground.