Georgia Football: 5 breakthrough candidates for 2021

Take a poll of Georgia football fans and ask them if they expected true freshman receiver Adonai Mitchell to be the breakout star of G-Day. If any of them answer yes, they’re a stone-faced liar.

Mitchell, a three-star recruit out of high school, signed with Georgia during the early signing period in December 2020 and then enrolled early in Athens in January 2021.

The dividends from his early investment as a college football player were on full display in Georgia’s 2021 G-Day game.

With George Pickens out following his ACL tear, and other Dawgs receivers nursing nagging injuries, Mitchell took his opportunity to shine and ran with it.

Behind crisp route-running normally seen from an upperclassmen, and exquisite body control, Mitchell became the primary target of JT Daniels throughout the day.

Targeted early and often, Mitchell hauled in seven passes for 105 yards and a score. And the buzz around his performance wasn’t all about the final numbers. He passed the eye test too, looking confident coming in and out of routes, and never looking hesitant or intimidated by the moment.

Apparently, that trend has continued in Georgia football’s fall camp, where Mitchell has impressed not just the coaching staff, but members of Georgia’s stout defense.

Mitchell’s emergence may come early in the season. It may even come in the opener against Clemson. His arch could also mimic Jermaine Burton’s from 2020, who got some run early, but didn’t put up gaudy numbers, before exploding in the Mississippi State game.

Regardless of when it happens, expect Adonai Mitchell to be a name college football fans recognize by the end of the 2021 season.