How Adonai Mitchell went from one Nashville high school season to first-round NFL Draft prospect

Adonai Mitchell played at Cane Ridge for only one football season, but like Ravens basketball legend Brandon Miller, Mitchell's place among the best athletes to walk its hallways is set.

That will be further cemented when Mitchell, a projected first-round selection, hears his named called in the 2024 NFL Draft that begins at 7 p.m., Thursday in Detroit (ESPN).

"Really, no one knows what his ceiling is because he’s so good and he's so athletic and he's still getting better," said Mitchell's high school coach, and former Cane Ridge mentor, Eddie Woods.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Missouri City, Texas, native is a part of a deep wide receiver class. He ran a blistering 4.34 in the 40 during the NFL Combine and has the pedigree as part of back-to-back national championship teams at Georgia. He finished his college career with Texas in the CFP semifinals against Washington in January.

"He played in five college football playoff games and he scored in all five of them and most of them were in the clutch," said Woods, who resigned as Cane Ridge's coach earlier this month after nine seasons. "He has that clutch gene."

Mitchell has spent much of the past two months in the Houston area and traveling, according to his father, Norman Mitchell, who moved his son from Texas to Nashville as a 17-year-old before the 2019 TSSAA football season.

"How many kids dream about being drafted in the NFL?" Norman Mitchell asked. "I told Adonai I’ve already had my cry, so I won’t embarrass him if he’s on camera and he’s selected."

ESPN's NFL analyst Mel Kiper projects Adonai Mitchell to be the No. 28 selection by the Buffalo Bills, who are looking to add an offensive option after trading Stefon Diggs to the Texans. CBS Sports has Mitchell going to Detroit with the 29th pick.

Mitchell could not be reached for comment. But his play spoke volumes last fall. He had career highs in receptions (55), receiving yards (845) and touchdowns (11) at Texas.

Mitchell had a touchdown in the Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma State and caught a TD pass in the Sugar Bowl against Washington. He had the go-ahead touchdown for Georgia with 54 seconds left against Ohio State in the 2023 CFP semifinals, and a 22-yard TD against TCU in the championship game that year. In 2022, Mitchell caught a fourth-quarter, 40-yard TD that sealed the Bulldogs' 33-18 title win over Alabama.

Despite originally committing to Ole Miss in April 2020, he signed with Georgia in December of that year. He finished his two years in Athens with 38 catches for 560 yards and seven touchdowns. But his desire to be close to his 2-year-old daughter, Icylinn, led him to transfer to Texas, and Georgia coach Kirby Smart was instrumental in making that happen.

"They talked a lot about it because Adonai missed a lot of time with his daughter, who turns 3 in June, while he was at Georgia," Norman Mitchell said. "So this week is truly about family and a celebration of Adonai's hard work and his dedication to family."

In his one season at Cane Ridge Mitchell played both wide receiver and quarterback. He was thrown into the QB role after the Ravens' starter went down during a preseason scrimmage. Mitchell returned to wide receiver as Cane Ridge's health improved. He finished the season with 28 receptions for 417 yards and seven TDs. He also rushed for 203 yards and four touchdowns.

"He really liked Tennessee and (former Vols wide receivers coach) Tee Martin really liked him," Woods said. "I told Tee Martin that Adonai was a gem. This kid can play. But Lane Kiffin came to the school one day and wanted to eye-ball him. Then Lane offered him. Ultimately Georgia was the better fit for him."

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.