Former Florida International WR Kris Mitchell visiting Notre Dame on Saturday
The Fighting Irish are not wasting time evaluating their options to boost their wide receiver corps. On Saturday, former Florida International wide receiver and graduate transfer Kris Mitchell informed Blue & Gold recruiting insider Mike Singer he was visiting the University of Notre Dame on Saturday.
Mitchell arrived in South Bend on Friday. He has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining after spending five seasons at FIU. On3 rates Mitchell as a four-star (91 rating) collegiate prospect.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Mitchell’s visit comes after a mass exodus at the wide receiver position for the Irish. They lost four wide receivers who intend to enter the transfer portal when it opens Monday: Rico Flores Jr., Braylon James, Tobias Merriweather and Chris Tyree. Tyree entered the portal as a graduate transfer.
On Tuesday, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman dismissed wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey. Flores, James and Merriweather announced their intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal following Stuckey’s departure.
Meanwhile, Mitchell is searching for a new home after five years in Miami. In five seasons with the Panthers, he appeared in 38 games and caught 100 passes for 1,663 yards and 12 touchdowns.
This past one, Mitchell had a career year. He hauled in 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. Also worth noting, Mitchell’s yards per reception (17.47) is No. 43 in the nation.
Notre Dame’s combination of Flores, James, Merriweather and Tyree combined for 68 catches worth 1,172 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2023.
Before Mitchell’s 2023 campaign, Athlon named Mitchell to the All-CUSA third team. Phil Steele pegged Mitchell to the All-CUSA fourth team.
Mitchell would add much-needed numbers to Notre Dame Football’s WR room
For the 2024 season, the Irish only have six scholarship wide receivers on the roster: Deion Colzie, Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse, Kaleb “KK” Smith and Jayden Thomas.
In the 2024 recruiting class, Notre Dame has three verbal commitments: five-star Cam Williams, top 215 four-star Micah Gilbert, and top 330 four-star Logan Saldate. Williams, Gilbert and Saldate plan to officially sign with the program in December.
As a recruit, Mitchell was a three-star prospect ranked as the No. 231 wide receiver nationally and No. 223 prospect in Florida, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He committed to the Panthers out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin over seven Divison I scholarship offers.
