National Football Foundation

A true inspiration, Matthew Mitchell excelled on the field and in the classroom at Joy Christian School in Glendale, Ariz., despite being born with cystic fibrosis. The three-year captain was a unanimous First Team All-State selection at quarterback as a senior. His numerous awards in 2015 included Arizona Republic Division-V Player of the Year, Arizona Football Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year and ACA First Team All-American. Mitchell recorded the fourth highest quarterback rating in the country and set Arizona Division-V records for career and single-season touchdowns while leading Joy Christian to a perfect 13-0 season and the 2015 state championship.

Boasting an impressive 4.46 weighted GPA, Mitchell was named to the First Team All-Academic team for Arizona Divisions III-VI. A member of the National Honor Society, he received all A’s his final three years of high school while taking all available honors courses. Mitchell served as Joy Christian’s student body president as a senior and the president of his junior class. 

Mitchell has served as a cystic fibrosis lifestyle spokesperson, and he took part in the cystic life community exercise research project. He has also served as a volunteer youth coach and a motivational speaker. Mitchell received the 2016 Arizona High School Sports Courage Award, the Valley of the Sun Chapter’s Shaw Courage Award and the Boomer Esiason Foundation Sacks for CF Scholarship.

With countless options for continuing his education, Mitchell wanted an opportunity to play college football. Phoenix College (Ariz.) was the only program in the country that offered him an opportunity to play immediately. He has appeared in four games, recording a receiving touchdown and a passing touchdown.