Mitchell Paige

Classroom

Mitchell Paige is a telecommunications major and is scheduled to graduate in December 2016 with a business foundations certificate.

Character

Paige walked on at Indiana for the 2012 season and, after redshirting that year, he played in nine games at wide receiver and on special teams over the next two campaigns. His perseverance paid off as he earned a scholarship for the 2015 season. In 2015, Paige was one of the top wide receivers in the Big Ten and turned in one of the top seasons for a punt returner in school history. His performance earned him a scholarship once again for 2016. Paige is now one of the team’s 12 leaders after he earned the team’s 2015 Howard Brown “Dedication to IU Football” Award.

Community

Paige has spent time volunteering at the Earthstone Health Campus, Read Across America, 2nd & 7 Foundation and as a motivational speaker and guest at Bloomington’s Binford Elementary after-school program. He also has volunteered weekly at Bloomington’s Highland Park Elementary School as a recess monitor and worked with the Monroe County Youth Football Association. Paige joined a local church and helped out with the annual Easter egg hunt, as well.

Competition

In 2015, Paige was named honorable mention All-Big Ten as a return specialist (media). He also led the team with six touchdowns (T-6th in the Big Ten), finished second with 57 receptions (T-10th) and third with 684 yards (16th). Paige averaged 4.4 catches and 52.6 yards per game and returned 18 punts for 199 yards (5th in the Big Ten, 30th nationally), good for an 11.1 average (5th, 22nd), with two TDs (T-1st, T-2nd). His two punt return scores share a program record and fifth in Big Ten history for a single season, and are tied for the second-most in school history overall.

Paige completed one of two passes for 16 yards and rushed three times for 11 yards. He has started 12 out of the 13 games and reached 90 receiving yards four times with one 100-yard game. He has caught at least five passes five times and led the team in catches four times (three times with game-high honors), as well as yardage three times. Paige posted 11 20-yard grabs and three 30-yarders (34, 36, 45). He recorded his first career 100-yard game with 126 yards on eight grabs, including a career-long 45-yarder. Paige set a career-high with 11 receptions for 95 yards and a 25-yard touchdown in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Duke. His 11 catches set a Pinstripe Bowl record and share 11th on the Hoosiers single-game list.