Former Florida International WR Kris Mitchell commits to Notre Dame football
On Tuesday, the Notre Dame football program plucked one of the top wide receivers out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. Former Florida International University standout Kris Mitchell announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish. Mitchell has one more year of collegiate eligibility and will join the program in 2024 as a graduate transfer.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Mitchell pledged to the Irish following five years at FIU. In his college career, he appeared in 38 games and hauled in 100 passes for 1,663 yards and 12 touchdowns. He entered the transfer portal on Nov. 28.
Mitchell’s best season with the Panthers was this past one. He caught 64 passes for 1,118 yards (17.5 yards per catch) and scored 7 touchdowns. His receiving yardage ranks No. 13 in the FBS, while his 5.3 receptions per game is No. 42. Mitchell’s yards per reception (17.47) is No. 40 in the nation.
According to On3’s 2024 College Football Transfer Portal Top Players, Mitchell was the No. 11 overall player and No. 2 wide receiver available. On3 considers him a four-star collegiate prospect with a 91 rating. Mitchell’s On3 NIL Valuation is $482,000. That ranks No. 101 among college football players.
Athlon Sports named Mitchell to the All-CUSA third team before the 2023 season. Phil Steele tapped Mitchell to the All-CUSA fourth team.
Mitchell’s pledge provides boost to Notre Dame football wide receiver corps
Mitchell’s decision comes at a much-needed time for the Notre Dame football program. Entering the 2024 season, the Irish only have six scholarship wide receivers: Deion Colzie, Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse, Kaleb “KK” Smith and Jayden Thomas.
Notre Dame previously lost four wide receivers to the transfer portal: Rico Flores Jr., Braylon James, Tobias Merriweather and Chris Tyree. Tyree entered the portal as a graduate transfer. Flores, James and Merriweather entered the portal following head coach Marcus Freeman’s dismissal of wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey.
The Irish will also add three more reinforcements in the high school recruiting ranks later this month. Five-star Cam Williams, top 215 four-star Micah Gilbert, and top 330 four-star Logan Saldate are all verbally committed to Notre Dame. Williams, Gilbert and Saldate plan to officially sign with the program in December.
When Mitchell was a recruit at Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin, he was a three-star prospect ranked as the No. 231 wide receiver nationally and the No. 223 prospect in Florida, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He picked to stay in-state and play for the Panthers over seven Division I scholarship offers.
