If you want to know how precarious recruiting can be, consider the case of Jacksonville Mandarin wide receiver Kris Mitchell.
In 2017, Mandarin finished 2-8, and there wasn’t much buzz regarding Mitchell, a 6-1, 170-pounder who committed to the FIU Panthers on July 29.
But then, Mandarin — led by quarterback and Alabama recruit Carson Beck — got hot, rolling all the way to its first state championship, beating Miami Columbus in the 2018 title game.
Suddenly, Mitchell was getting more attention, especially after catching 14 passes for 315 yards in the state semifinals and final.