Longhorns WR AD Mitchell Named Big 12 Newcomer Of The Week

AD Mitchell scored two touchdowns and took home the hardware following Texas' upset win against Alabama.

They don't call Adonai Mitchell "money" for nothing.

The Texas Longhorns junior receiver was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after his breakout performance in a 34-24 win over then-No. 3 Alabama Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the league announced Monday. Mitchell was a key element to the Longhorns' victory in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell, a native of Missouri City, caught three passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns during Texas' most significant win since its national title run in 2009. He also was pivotal as a downfield blocker in the run game against Alabama's secondary.

Following a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Milore to Jermain Burton, Texas (2-0) needed to respond to regain the lead. Quinn Ewers targeted Mitchell on a 20-plus yards downfield, but the defense drew a pass interference call that moved the Longhorns up 15 yards to the UT 43.

Adonai Mitchell - Big 12 Newcomer of the Week@MoCityMitch 🤘 pic.twitter.com/rjka9uX1Q7

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 11, 2023

Ewers found Ja'Tavion Sanders for a gain of 50 yards before finally targetting Mitchell for a 7-yard score. The duo connected again following another Milroe touchdown pass, this time for a 39-yard touchdown to put Texas up by 10 with 8:23 remaining.

"What this game served for coming in here was going to be a benchmark and a barometer of what we're capable of, and what the potential is of this team," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said postgame. "To come in here knowing that in the last 53 games Alabama was 52-1 in this stadium, and now, to come in here and get the win in the fashion that we did, I thought we played a dominating brand of football in all three phases. We have the potential to do something special this year."

© John David Mercer, USA TODAY

A transfer from Georgia, Mitchell already knew the pressure of facing Alabama, having taken on the Crimson Tide twice in 2021. Combined, Mitchell totaled three catches for 58 yards and scored the game-sealing touchdown in the College Football Playoff National Championship game to give the Bulldogs their first title since 1980.

Ewers, who won Big 12 Player of the Week, finished an inspiring 24 for 38 passing for 349 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He never wavered under the pressure and continued to counterattack with blows that pushed Alabama up against the ropes.

"Quinn's a dog," defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat said. "I'm not surprised."

The No. 4 Longhorns handed Alabama its first non-conference loss at home since 2007. Sarkisian became the third former assistant to beat Nick Saban, and the first to claim a victory over the seven-time national champion coach at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The victory marked the first non-conference road win for the Longhorns over an AP Top-3 opponent in program history. It also marked the first win over a top-3 opponent since the 15-14 victory against then-No. 2 Arkansas in 1969.

Texas returns to Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday to take on Wyoming at 7 p.m.