Mitchell was named the 2019 Tennessean Region 5-6A Athlete of the Year[3] following a season which saw him record 28 receptions for 417 yards and 5 touchdowns in addition to 203 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on 45 carries,[2] leading his team to a 9-4 overall record and a 6-0 league record. Before the start of the 2020 high school season, he was named to the MaxPreps Preseason Tennessee All-State Second Team Offense.[4]
Prior to his time at Cane Ridge High School, Mitchell attended Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas, where he had 25 receptions totaling 378 yards and 3 touchdowns in addition to 170 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 23 carries.[2] Following the season, he was named to the UIL Class 6A District 20 All-District Second Team Offense.[5]
College career
Georgia
Mitchell, a three-star recruit,[6] enrolled at the University of Georgia in January 2021[5] after flipping his commitment from Ole Miss from July 2020.[7][8] This came following his recruitment by top-ranked football programs such as Auburn, Missouri, West Virginia, and Boston College, among others.[9] In the Georgia Bulldogs' spring game in April 2021, he caught 7 of his 13 targets for 105 yards and 1 touchdown.[10] During week three of the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs season, Mitchell was named SEC Freshman of the Week following a performance that saw him record four receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown vs South Carolina.[11]
He was a key part of the 2022 College Football National Championship victory at the end of the 2021 season, catching the go-ahead 40-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett with 8 minutes remaining. During the celebration of the victory, Mitchell was interviewed by CBS Atlanta affiliate, WGCL, where he recounted the catch, "It was amazing to answer that call when it came, be that answer that the team to come through."[12] Mitchell finished the season as the Bulldogs' third ranked receiver, totaling 29 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns.[13]
Mitchell's sophomore 2022 season was hampered by injury — specifically an ankle hurt during the Bulldogs' week 2 game against Samford.[14] The injury lingered throughout the season[14] and he only saw action in 6 games, catching just 9 balls for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns — numbers that would be, by far, the worst of his college career.[15] He missed six games with the injury before making it back for the SEC title game against LSU.[14] In that game he slipped and fell on a potential touchdown route late in the first quarter, but later managed to make his mark in the box score when he rolled out to his right on a trick two-point conversion pass, zipping a spiral to teammate Darnell Washington for the score.[14]
Texas
Mitchell transferred to Texas in 2023.[16] He had 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns.[17]
Mitchell began the 2024 season as a starter for the Colts, on the field for the first snap in four of his first seven contests. During that period, he was targeted 27 times but made just 10 catches for 109 total yards — drawing some attention at one point for dropping the ball in an apparent aversion to forthcoming contact.[21] He was subsequently eased from the starting lineup with the return from injury of second-year player Josh Downs, who suffered a sprained ankle during training camp. Colts receivers coach Reggie Wayne expressed complete confidence in Mitchell, attributing his miscues to normal rookie jitters.[22] "Just keep watching," Wayne urged.[22]
Mitchell is nicknamed "AD"[14] and has a daughter.[23] Mitchell is also a type 1 diabetic, being diagnosed at 16. Mitchell having diabetes may have impacted his draft position, as prior to the draft, there were also rumors circulated about his commitment to preparation and seemingly cocky attitude.[24] Colts general manager Chris Ballard was incensed by these whispers and reports, declaring in a profanity-laced tirade, "It's crap. This is a good kid. And for those reports to come out, it's bullshit."[24]