Player profile: Mitchell Paige

After a couple of uneventful years for the walk-on from Indianapolis, Mitchell Paige exploded onto the scene in 2015, emerging as one of Indiana’s most reliable wide receivers. That’s Paige in a nutshell, however – the type of player that earns his chances and never quits.

Paige finished his career at Guerin Catholic High School as a two time All-State selection with a couple of regional championships under his belt. With over 2,000 receiving yards, 965 rushing yards, 1,794 return yards, and 37 touchdowns, there was no question to Paige’s versatility and athleticism. After evaluating his options, he decided to remain in-state, and join the Hoosiers.

At only 5’7”, and weighing just 176 pounds, Paige is unlikely going to muscle off a defender or win a jump-ball. He can be compared to some NFL standout receivers like Wes Welker or Julian Edelmen. These players, through determination and aggressiveness, add a different element to offenses, and create tedious match-ups for defenders. Slot receivers have become increasingly popular due to their ability to find open holes in coverage, as well as become useful for screen and dump off passes.

Receiving, Paige hauled in a team high 6 touchdowns, with 684 yards to go with them. Most analysts wouldn’t even mention Paige as a top Big Ten receiver, but he had the 6th most touchdowns, and 16th most yards. Paige eclipsed 90 yards on four separate occasions last season, most notably his 126 yard performance in their heartbreaking defeat to Rutgers. He also showed up when it counted, with 95 yards and a touchdown against Duke in the Pinstripe Bowl. Paige’s contribution is remarkable considering where he started, and is shaping up to have another big year this season.

Paige has also proved his worth on special teams, returning punts for 199 yards last season (and 2 touchdowns), which ranked 5th in the Big Ten and 30th nationally.

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With Simmie Cobbs Jr. likely missing the entire season, there are a lot of receptions up for grabs. While Nick Westbrook appears to be Richard Lagow’s favorite target, at the moment, it would not be surprising in the slightest if Mitchell Paige starts racking up big numbers.

He started out slow against Florida International, catching only two passes for 29 yards, but the whole offense seemed out of sync, and with a new quarterback at the helm, needed a little time to get into a rhythm. Paige followed up with a much better outing against Ball state with six receptions for 76 yards.

Other than his underdog story, what makes Paige so special is his dedication to the game. The program recognized his efforts and awarded him the Howard Brown “Dedication to Indiana University Football” Award. He is quickly becoming a fan-favorite, but not in the way that Indiana Basketball supporters love Tim Priller, Paige is actually an effective player.

Paige’s career will most likely end with Indiana, as most receivers in his position need a few 1,000 yard seasons to be considered professional talent, but he still has a chance to build on what has already been a memorable career. Look for Mitchell Paige to turn a few heads this season and become one of the Big Ten’s surprisingly impactful receivers.