Ridgefield’s Mitchell commits to UConn
One of Connecticut’s finest is staying right at home.
Ridgefield rising senior Jackson Mitchell gave a verbal commitment to UConn Thursday night, becoming the Huskies’ third recruit for the Class of
2023. The 6-foot-2, 210pound wide receiver hauled in 80 catches — the most in the state — for 1,124 yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 games for the Tigers.
Mitchell received the offer last week after several visits to the school. He didn’t take long to jump at the opportunity after shortly considering it with family and coaches.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Mitchell said by phone Friday. “(Playing college football) is something I’ve always wanted to do and to represent your home state is special.”
Mitchell, a two-star recruit per Rivals.com, is also a standout on the front seven with 38 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions a year ago. He will head to Storrs as an athlete with no designated position. Mitchell was primarily recruited as a defensive player before the Huskies saw his offensive skillset.
“The coaches were really friendly and make you feel like at home,” Mitchell said. “Coach (Randy) Edsall was successful the first time he was there. They talked about where the program was headed and turning it around.”
Also a basketball player, Mitchell checks off all the boxes said Tigers coach Kevin Callahan, who worked closely with college coaches who visited the
school.
“The ability speaks for itself,” Callahan said. “They want to know what kind of kid he is, his family background; I fill in the blanks. Clearly when you watch him on film he possesses his ability; we’ve been going through 100 weeks of passing leagues and he’s out there for coaches.”
The Huskies did graduate three wide receivers — Tyraiq Beals, Kyle Buss and Hergy Mayala — in addition to tight end Aaron McLean, a former receiver. The rest of the recruiting class could determine which side of the ball he lines up on, Mitchell added.
Mitchell — was named first team All-FCIAC and All-State last fall — received offers from a host of FCS schools, including Dartmouth, Sacred Heart and Colgate. He will join his father as a Division I athlete; Tom Mitchell played at Hofstra and is an assistant with the Tigers.
“Jackson is an exceptional athlete and has been recruited heavily,” Callahan said. “He’s a quality athlete with big time Division-I body; he was infatuated and wanted to play with his home state university.”