Dillon Mitchell lives up to high expectations in Oregon’s spring game

Posted on April 30, 2016

Originally Posted on Emerald Media via UWIRE

Few players garnered as much praise from teammates and coachers as freshman wide receiver Dillon Mitchell during Oregon’s spring practices the past four weeks.

In the Ducks’ annual spring game at Autzen Stadium Saturday, Mitchell lived up to his lofty reputation. He caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Dakota Prukop and led Mighty Oregon to a 21-20 win over  the Webfoots.

Head coach Mark Helfrich beamed when asked about Mitchell’s potential.

“He’s really good,” he put simply, emphasizing ‘really.’

Mitchell, whom 247Sports rated the No. 1 receiving prospect in Tennessee, chose Oregon over a number of top programs, including Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State, Auburn, Notre Dame and Georgia. He did so fully aware that he’d have to compete for playing time with one of the deepest wide receiving corps in the country.

What separates him from the pack?

“I make plays that other guys usually can’t make,” Mitchell said after the game.

That’s exactly what he did on Saturday. In the second quarter, quarterback Dakota Prukop lobbed a 50-50 jump ball to a streaking Mitchell in the corner of the end zone. 5-foot-10 cornerback Ugo Amadi had inside position on Mitchell, but the 6-foot-1 receiver leapt over his back and made a spectacular juggling catch, turning a would-be pass deflection into a 32-yard touchdown for the game’s first.