 In the summer prior to the 1999 season , Mitchell and Poli @-@ Dixon trained with Minnesota Vikings receivers Randy Moss and Cris Carter in Florida . Mitchell , Poli @-@ Dixon , Danny Farmer , and the rest of the UCLA receiving corps called themselves " The Birds " for their ability to " fly all over the field . " Mitchell was hampered by a knee cartilage issue throughout his redshirt sophomore season . In his first career start , replacing the injured Farmer in the season @-@ opener against Boise State , Mitchell had one catch for 11 yards from Drew Bennett , one kickoff return for 15 yards , and four punt returns for 33 yards . In the next week in a loss against the Ohio State Buckeyes , Mitchell again started in place of Farmer and gained 31 yards on two reverses , had four kickoff returns for 73 yards and completed a pass for 18 yards . In a 35 – 21 win over Fresno State on September 18 , Mitchell , again starting in place of Farmer , caught nine passes for 149 yards , both career @-@ highs . Mitchell caught 10 passes for 103 total yards in the next four games . He led the team in receiving for three consecutive weeks to follow : in his sixth start of the season , a 55 – 7 blowout loss to Oregon State , he caught five passes for 58 yards ; in the Bruins ' third @-@ straight loss , this time to Arizona , he had 42 yards on four receptions ; and in a 23 – 20 win in overtime against Washington , he successfully received four passes for 82 yards , including a 43 @-@ yard pass from Ryan McCann . In the final game of the season , against USC , Mitchell caught five passes for 88 yards . He had a total of 38 catches for 533 yards with no touchdowns and six starts in 1999 , and finished 15th in the Pac @-@ 10 in receptions with 3 @.@ 5 per game and 17th in receiving yards with 48 @.@ 5 per game . 
