A.D. Mitchell feeling more comfortable, ready for second season at Georgia
There are certainly a lot of expectations for Georgia wide receiver A.D. Mitchell as he goes into his sophomore season. Mitchell made one of the biggest plays in Georgia Football history last year to help the Bulldogs bring back home the National Championship trophy with a 33-18 win over Alabama. That came at the end of a season that saw him start 12 of 15 games at wide receiver and haul in 29 passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns. He played more offensive snaps than any other Georgia wide receiver in the process. And with the departure of a play maker like George Pickens as well as his position group’s leader in terms of yards and touchdowns, Jermaine Burton, the pressure is on for Mitchell to up his production to another level in 2022.
“In the Clemson game, I was a young freshman. Now, I am going into my second year in the offense, and I am getting more comfortable,” Mitchell told media members in his first-ever meeting with them at Georgia. “I just recognize the signals now. I’m able to process quicker than I was last year.”
Mitchell made his way to Georgia’s campus in the spring of 2021. After signing with the Bulldogs as a little bit of an under-the-radar recruit, he made an immediate impact in the spring. That’s because George Pickens went down with a torn ACL and the Bulldogs were in need of a big-bodied receiver like Mitchell to make plays.
“Buying into the process that we go through every day. Coach Kirby, the coaching staff, they help us everyday work to get better,” Mitchell said. “I bought into my role on the team, and it ended up working out.”
Like Mitchell said, it ended up working out. But if Georgia fans have their way, it’ll work out even better in 2022. They haven’t seen a 1,000-yard receiver suit up in red and black since Terrance Edwards in 2002. In fact, that’s the only one they’ve ever seen. With an experienced quarterback returning and weapons like Mitchell around him, the hopes are high for all individuals involved on the offensive side of the ball.
George Pickens is one of those people that has high expectations for Mitchell. Back at his Pro Day in the spring, he said that he believes that Mitchell can be the next big thing when it comes to Georgia wide receivers.
“He already has some stuff you can’t coach,” Pickens said. “He has the skills, the mindset, the routes, the speed, he’s got it all. He’s the next one upcoming.”
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As for what that means to him, Mitchell didn’t make much of it. While he absolutely learned things from Pickens along the way, he’s not concerned about being George 2.0.
“Definitely. I was definitely able to pick up a couple of releases, a couple of top-end route stuff that he does really well, still does really well,” Mitchell said. “To be honest I’m just focused on day-by-day, brick-by-brick stuff. Just trying to be the best me I can for the team so I can just play the best role that I can.”
“I would say I’m more comfortable because last year, I was still trying to pick up the playbook as I’m going through fall camp. Now I basically have that down,” he continued. “Once you get that down, the game slows down for you a little bit. You’re able to think about how you’re going to execute the plays versus getting lined up and being like, ‘Oh snap, do I have this route, do I block?’ Everything was going fast last year.”
Mitchell and company have 10 days left until they open the season against No. 11/12 Oregon next Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Dawgs and Ducks kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC as a part of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.
