Notre Dame WR Kris Mitchell Embraces Team Glory, Ready to Face Dream School
Team glory.
These two words are routinely heard around The Gug and the Notre Dame football program, whether it’s Marcus Freeman or his players.
It doesn’t take long to find players who have sacrificed individual achievement or personal glory for the betterment of the team, which is how Notre Dame has won six straight games.
There might not be a better example of a player who has embraced team glory more than graduate transfer receiver Kris Mitchell.
The 6-foot, 183-pounder didn’t have a lack of interest from programs coast to coast when he entered the Transfer Portal after he tallied 64 receptions for 1,118 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. Notre Dame won the battle for his services, but Mitchell’s numbers are a far cry from his final year at Florida International.
In 2024, Mitchell has recorded 13 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns, but the Florida native isn’t mad about it.
“I definitely try to process it more like that because we're winning more,” stated Mitchell. “The feeling of having a good season individually is just two different things. Yeah, I'm having a good season but we're losing every game, there's no fun in that. Here, we're winning almost every game and it's like I still make plays when they come to me.”
Mitchell valued the chance to win, but facing better competition and enhancing his game were also deciding factors in choosing the blue and gold.
And he firmly believes he’s a better receiver despite not having the big numbers of a year ago.
I think I definitely have gotten better,” Mitchell said. “Going against better opponents every week has made me realize that I have to use more moves, use speed here, use speed not here, make tougher catches. I definitely got smarter in that aspect.”
Embracing the team wasn’t hard for Mitchell. In fact, Mitchell has been key in others making explosive plays as he routinely does his job to get his teammates open, which is easier said than done for some players.
“A lot of stuff that people don't really realize is like the decoy routes that I have,” Mitchell explained. “I get other people open and the pick routes that I run, the blocking, the running man off, getting them out of the play so that J-Love (Jeremiyah Love) and JG (Jaden Greathouse) and guys can make explosive plays.”
That said, Mitchell also believes his time to shine is coming. Notre Dame’s offense has grown week to week this fall and it starts with Riley Leonard trusting his receivers.
It may have taken a little longer for that trust to develop than some would have hoped, but there are signs Leonard and the receivers are close to breaking through.
“I just think trusting his receivers, trust in the scheme that we have, trusting where to go based on the coverage he's seeing,” Mitchell said of where he’s seen Leonard grow. “He's playing a lot faster. He knows he can run the ball, so he's playing more and more confident with that and the coaches have unbelievable confidence in him that he can make a play.”
November is here and it’s now or never for the Irish as they enter a four-game stretch that will decide Notre Dame’s postseason fate.
Mitchell hasn’t been through College Football Playoff run, but he knows the Irish simply have to remain focused on themselves over the noise outside The Gug.
It starts Saturday night as Florida State comes to Notre Dame Stadium and Mitchell won’t lack any motivation to face the Seminoles.
“Florida State was definitely my dream school,” said Mitchell. “I grew up watching EJ Manuel and Jameis Winston - it’s always been a dream to play there. Going into this game, I take it personal. They didn’t believe in me coming out of high school, so I’m going to go show them what I got.”
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