Johnny Mitchell Jr. (born January 20, 1971) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Nebraska. Early years Mitchell was raised by his grand parents on a 150-acre farm in Tchula, Mississippi, avoiding the difficult neighborhood in Chicago where his parents lived. He moved back to Chicago at age 16, to pursue his education and sports formation. He graduated from Simeon Career Academy (then known as Simeon Vocational High School) in 1989, where his athletic ability allowed him to play multiple positions including quarterback and defensive end. As a sophomore, he was a member of the state championship team. As a senior, he helped his team reach the city finals and received All-state honors. College career Although he had initially agreed to attended the University of Miami, after head coach Jimmy Johnson left to coach the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, he accepted a football scholarship from the University of Nebraska. Mitchell became the first freshman from Nebraska to make the All-Big Eight first-team since 1946. He was second on the team in receiving, while setting a school record with a 25.6-average per reception and tying the school record for touchdown receptions by a tight end in a season (7). He also set a school bowl record, when he had 5 receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown against Georgia Tech in the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl. In 1991, he set school records for tight ends when he had a team-leading 31 receptions for 534 yards and five touchdowns. He also set two school single-game records for receptions and yards by a tight end in the season finale against the University of Oklahoma, when he had 7 catches for 137 yards. He declared for the NFL Draft after his sophomore season, to help ease the financial burdens of his family. He became the first Nebraska player to leave school for the NFL before his eligibility had expired. He finished his college career with 42 receptions for 816 yards, a 19.4-yard average and 12 touchdowns. Professional career New York Jets (first stint) Mitchell was selected by the New York Jets in the first round (15th overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft, after improving his draft stock through his athletic performance at the NFL Combine, even though he was