Germany: Braunschweig New Yorker Lions sign top WR Xavier Mitchell

AFI | American Football | 02/28/2020

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The defending German Football League champions and Europe #1, the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, have landed one of Europe’s top receivers with the signing of Xavier Mitchell.

Mitchell, who caught 83 passes for 1,469 yards in his two seasons in Italy with the championship-winning Milano Seamen was the leading receiver in Italy in 2018 and the leading receiver in the German Football League in 2017.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Mitchell from Clarksville, Tenn. (West Creek HS), was actually born in Landstuhl, Germany as both his parents were in the United States Military.

Mitchell was a key factor in the Semen’s march to their second and third consecutive Italian championship titles (2019, 2018) and fourth and fifth in six years.

In 2016 and 2017, playing for the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes in the German Football League, he became one of the most feared receivers and kick returners in the country and led the league in receiving yardage in 2017 with 96 receptions for 1,377 yards and 18 touchdowns. His two year total with the Hurricanes was 2,228 yards receiving and 28 touchdowns.

Mitchell had an outstanding college career at Kentucky Wesleyan (NCAA Div. II) where he placed No. 5 in NCAA receptions per game (8.4), No. 29 in NCAA punt returns per game (10.3) and No. 34 in NCAA receiving yards per game (85.2).

He also led Kentucky Wesleyan in receptions (84) and was second in receiving yards (852) and receiving touchdowns (6) as a senior. He was also first in punt returns (12) and kickoff returns (19) in starting all 11 games.

Mitchell ended his collegiate career by playing in the fifth annual Division II vs. NAIA Football All-Star Challenge on Dec. 19, in Myrtle Beach, SC. In KWC’s career record book, Mitchell finished second in pass receptions (194); sixth in receiving yards (2,024); eighth in all-purpose yards (2,921), ninth in receiving touchdowns (13), punt return yards (249), punt returns (23) and kick returns (45).

The Lions finished the 2019 season unbeaten, with a 17-0 record including a gritty 10-7 win over the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns to capture their 12th German title and 5th in 7 years.