ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

July 21, 2021

James Mitchell

Virginia Tech Hokies

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for James Mitchell.

Q. Fantastic year last year. I'm interested in what you did in the off-season to make you an even better and more effective tight end this season.

JAMES MITCHELL: Yeah, first off, I added a lot of weight to my frame. Since the last season, I've gained eight to ten pounds. I'm running well. I'm as strong as I've ever been. That was a huge part of me coming back, was continuing to get stronger. I play down there in the trenches. Continue to be able to block those guys on the line.

Also working on my routes. I try to do a lot of things for the offense. Being able to go out there and run routes against DBs and safeties, that's also something I've tried to focus on.

Q. What can you say about the offense under Braxton, the confidence that you have in him, maybe defining his leadership as you step into the season?

JAMES MITCHELL: Yes, sir. I would say one thing about him. He's definitely a confident player. When he steps in the huddle, he's calm, cool and collected. He knows how to get guys behind him and play for him.

Since we had a full spring and a full summer, he's really stepped up with his communicating, just trying to lead guys and stuff like that. He came in last year against Clemson late, started the season and came in against Clemson and UVA. I thought we played really well at the end there with him at the quarterback.

Q. Talk about the importance of the time that you and Braxton and the other receivers have gotten to spend together? What will the difference be? When it's third down and crunch time, what part does chemistry play in getting that first down?

JAMES MITCHELL: It plays a huge part. Like y'all were talking about, the timing of the routes, everything, getting together over the summer, just being able to throw all the time during spring ball, getting a full spring helped out a lot.

Just really building that trust in one another. On those crucial third downs, he can trust me, I'm going to make him that play, and I'm going to trust him to make that throw.

Q. When you watched the NFL game, who would you compare your game after? You remind me of Travis Kelce.

JAMES MITCHELL: I would say I have thought Travis Kelce, also Darren Waller who plays for the Raiders, a guy that can go out there and flex, play by himself at the X, do different stuff. Tight end has become a position where you have to do that stuff. A lot of guys in the NFL do that.

For me, I think the biggest thing for me this year is taking things from a lot of those guys, George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, taking little things from each of those guys and try to implement it into my game for the next level.

Q. On NIL, have you spoken with any brands about that, your approach to that, thoughts on the possibilities that are there?

JAMES MITCHELL: I have not spoken to any brands yet on that. I have had some people reach out. It's just not something -- it's something that I might be interested in, just not something I have taken the time to do yet.

Right now football and finishing up my degree has been my main focus. But definitely maybe something that I'll look forward to or look into when the season starts maybe.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.