Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley’s football journey has been tumultuous. From Community College to Conference USA to the Big Ten… and then to be undrafted, Tinsley has faced long odds at every step of the way.
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Undrafted Wide Receiver Mitchell Tinsley Makes Commanders’ Initial 53-Man Roster
An Unlikely Path
Mitchell Tinsley only played one year of high school football. This was his entire high school stat line: 19 receptions, 350 yards, and six touchdowns. That’s it. Unsurprisingly, college football programs weren’t exactly lining up to offer the 6’0″, 180lbs senior from Missouri. Scholarships had already been handed out and his ridiculous 31.6% touchdown rate was too small of a sample size to mean anything.
In 2018, Tinsley took his talents to Kansas to keep his football career alive at Hutchinson Community College. He played two seasons for the Blue Dragons, bursting onto the scene with 47 receptions, 556 yards, and 4 touchdowns in his second year after making little impact in year one. It was enough to turn some heads at the Division 1 level. Tinsley received formal scholarships from UMass, Akron, Western Kentucky, and South Alabama, among others.
Hutchinson wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley committed to Western Kentucky University in 2019 and played two seasons with the Hilltoppers. He led the team in receiving both years, highlighted by a monster junior season catching passes from future New England Patriot, Bailey Zappe. Tinsley caught 87 balls for 1,402 yards and 14 scores, ranking top-10 in the FBS in both yards and touchdowns. His days as an unknown commodity were over.
NFL Aspirations
With one more year of college eligibility, Tinsley transferred to Penn State to showcase his ability on a bigger stage. He competed with 2023 NFL draftees Brenton Strange (2nd round) and Parker Washington (6th round) for the target share from quarterback Sean Clifford (5th round). Nonetheless, he played in all 13 games for the 11-2 Nittany Lions, finishing first on the team in receptions (51), second in receiving yards (577), and tied for first in touchdowns with five.
While at the Rose Bowl, Tinsley participated in the NFLPA Bowl week. With a strong week of practices, he earned a late invite to the East-West Shrine Game in Las Vegas. It doesn’t hold the same prestige as the Senior Bowl but is still a great opportunity for late-round prospects. He parlayed that appearance into an invite to the NFL Draft Combine.
Mitchell Tinsley / WR / #5
6’1 / 206lbs / UDFA
22’ – 51 Recs, 577yds, 5 TDs
21’ ( WKU) – 87 Recs, 1,402yds, 14 TDs.Mitchell is a quality Route Runner that has shown quality Hands in crucial situations. Here we see him High point the ball and secure the deep ball. #HTTC pic.twitter.com/ZVUNbgzqkZ
— The Podfather (@TheBurgundyZone) May 20, 2023
Tinsley didn’t help his stock during the explosiveness testing at the Combine but showed very well in interviews and agility drills. He ran a 4.60-second 40-yard dash, leading to questions about long speed, but flashed elite quickness with a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.21 seconds. The Combine also couldn’t adequately quantify his jump-ball ability, sure hands, and play strength. Tinsley wasn’t selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Undrafted Free Agent
Undrafted wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley signed a training camp deal with the Commanders after the draft. He was a long shot to make the roster at one of Washington’s positions of strength, especially after adding veteran Byron Pringle to an already-crowded room. But Tinsley was uncoverable in camp and immediately made his presence felt.
Yeah I think I want Mitchell Tinsley to be WR6 he’s always open #HTTC pic.twitter.com/f11eW9hbon
— Mason Kinnahan (@Mason_Kinnahan) August 19, 2023
Showing out in training camp is necessary, but it’s not enough. After a quiet first two preseason appearances, it was reasonable to question if Tinsley’s opportunities might be running out. But he wasn’t done yet. Tinsley exploded for 3 receptions, 89 yards, and this touchdown from Jacoby Brissett in Week 3 to stake his claim on an elusive roster spot. One of his other catches, this time from Jake Fromm, was initially ruled a touchdown but eventually placed inside the one-yard line.
After the final preseason game, Washington trimmed its roster from 90 players down to 53. Wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley made the cut, adding another chapter to an incredible story of adversity and resilience. But his book is far from written. Tinsley will start the season in a depth role as the sixth or seventh receiver. If history is any indication, though, he’ll make an impact sooner than later. He’s overcome much longer odds before.
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Main Photo: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY NETWORK
