Mitchell Paige

Illinois

Sep 20 (Sat)

7:30 p.m.

Photo by: Ben Mikesell

Photo by: Mike Dickbernd

Height:
5-7
Weight:
176
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Carmel, Ind.
High School:
Guerin Catholic

Mitchell Paige finished his career with 115 receptions for 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns in 35 games (24 starts). He became the 19th Hoosier to reach 100 catches and 1,000 yards. Paige shares second on the program’s career list with two punt return touchdowns. He returned 39 punts for 360 yards (11th all-time at IU), rushed eight times for 47 yards with one TD, and completed 2-of-4 passes for 21 yards and one score. Paige collected 1,737 career all-purpose yards and started all 24 games over his junior and senior seasons. He graduated with a telecommunications degree in Dec. 2016.

2016 Honors: Honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media) ... team captain ... Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist ... member of the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List ... Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee ... Senior CLASS Award candidate ... earned the team’s Ted Verlihay “Mental Attitude” Award.

2016 (Senior): Led the team with 58 receptions for 646 yards and four touchdowns ... rushed five times for 36 yards with a 15-yard TD ... threw a 5-yard score in two pass attempts ... returned 18 punts for 129 yards ... ranked fifth in the Big Ten in catches and 12th in yardage ... started 12 games and played in all 13 ... led the team in receptions six times (5 with game-high honors) and yardage twice (once) ... reached 100 yards twice ... made a season-high nine grabs for a season-best 101 yards with a 39-yard punt return against No. 10 Nebraska ... caught six balls for 100 yards, with a 42-yarder, in the win at Rutgers ... threw his first career touchdown pass, tallied three catches for 48 yards and a TD, and returned one punt for 31 yards in the victory vs. No. 17 Michigan State ... collected six receptions for 76 yards in the Ball State win ... recorded his first career rushing score, a 15-yarder, in the Maryland victory ... netted seven catches for 64 yards against Wake Forest ... IU offensive player of the week (Nebraska) ... six-time game captain ... earned a scholarship for the 2016 season during preseason camp.

2015 Honors: Honorable mention All-Big Ten as a return specialist (media) ... earned the team’s Howard Brown “Dedication to IU Football” Award.

2015 (Junior): Led the team with six touchdowns (T-6th in the Big Ten), finished second with 57 receptions (T-10th) and third with 684 yards (16th) ... averaged 4.4 catches and 52.6 yards per game ... returned 18 punts for 199 yards (5th in the Big Ten, 30th nationally), good for an 11.1 average (5th, 22nd), with two TDs (T-1st, T-2nd) ... his two punt return scores share a program record and fifth in Big Ten history for a single season, and are tied for the second-most in school history overall ... completed 1-of-2 passes for 16 yards and rushed three times for 11 yards ... started 12 games and played in all 13 ... reached 90 receiving yards four times with one 100-yard game ... caught at least five passes five times ... led the team in catches four times (thrice with game-high honors) and yardage three times ... recorded his first career 100-yard game with 126 yards on eight grabs, including a career-long 45-yarder, against Rutgers ... set a career-high with 11 receptions for 95 yards and a 25-yard touchdown in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Duke ... the 11 catches set a Pinstripe Bowl record and share 11th on the Hoosiers single-game list ... made eight grabs for 99 yards at No. 7 Michigan State and five for 92 with a 23-yard TD in the victory at Purdue ... carded his first career two-score game on five catches for 64 yards in the win at Maryland ... collected his first career reception in the season-opening Southern Illinois win and his first career TD in the Florida International victory ... tallied a 91-yard punt return touchdown, the fifth-longest in school history and the second-longest in the FBS in 2015, in the Western Kentucky victory ... added his second score, a 51-yarder, against No. 15 Michigan ... two-time IU special teams player of the week (Western Kentucky and Michigan) ... earned a scholarship for the 2015 season during preseason camp.

2014 (Sophomore): Played in six games at wide receiver and on special teams.

2013 (Freshman): Appeared in three games at wide receiver and punt returner ... made his collegiate debut in the Indiana State win ... returned three punts for 32 yards in the game ... also played in the Bowling Green and Purdue victories.

2012: Redshirted the 2012 season ... walk-on joined the program during preseason camp.

Prep/Personal: Wide receiver for head coach Andy Kremer at Guerin Catholic High School ... two-time all-state selection ... closed his career with 2,006 receiving yards, 965 rushing yards, 1,794 return yards and 37 touchdowns ... team captured two regional championships ... also lettered in basketball, golf and track and field ... parents are Trudy and Barry Paige ... born on July 19, 1993, Mitchell Andrew Paige is a telecommunications major.