Colts GM Goes Off on Texas WR Adonai Mitchell Criticism

Chris Ballard: I read some of the bull ---- that was said on TV... He's a good kid.

Matt Galatzan | Apr 27, 2024

Sep 9, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) celebrates / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Indianapolis Colts

AUSTIN - Texas Longhorns wide receiver Adonai Mitchell was projected as one of the top receivers coming into the 2024 NFL Draft.

By some, he was even seen as a first-round candidate in recent mock drafts. However, following negative reports that came out in recent days, Mitchell's draft stock took a hit, causing him to slide all way into the second round, where he was eventually selected at No. 52 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.

First, it was his teammates that came to his defense. But now, his new team is coming to his defense, with Colts GM Chris Ballard going on a profanity-laced tirade and doubling down on the franchise's choice to pick Mitchell on Friday.

Sep 9, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) celebrates / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

"I don't know, I read some of the bull ---- that was said on TV. Just our typical league. Unnamed sources, bad interview. It's such bull ----," Ballard said in his defense of Mitchell. “Put your name on it. We tear these young men down. These are 21, 22 year old men. If people out there can tell me they're perfect in their lives... It’s crap. This is a good kid. And for those reports to come out, it's bull ----. I'm sorry. I apologize for the language. I don't, but I do."

By all accounts and to Ballard's point, Mitchell was nothing but a model teammate and student to his coaches both at Texas and his previous stop at Georgia, where he helped each school reach the College Football Playoff, and won back-to-back titles with the Bulldogs.

In fact, Mitchell finishes his college career with 93 catches for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns. A two-time national champion with Georgia, he appeared in five College Football Playoff games, catching a touchdown in all five.

He also had his career-best season at Texas this year, posting 55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns, all career-high marks.

Now, Mitchell will let his play do the talking, and will hope to prove those doubters wrong at the NFL level with the Colts.

Published Apr 26, 2024|Modified Apr 27, 2024

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns In SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks with the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com for 247Sports. He then moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, ex Longhorns Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, FOX News and former ESPN host Will Cain, as well as countless other recruits and former players for each of the teams he has covered. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.