Bengals' Mitchell Tinsley is guest speaker for Central Ohio HSSA show

The Central Ohio High School Sports Awards show is thrilled to announce Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley as its guest speaker.

The live show is June 22 at Upper Arlington High School. The show is produced with the support of Express Car Wash Concepts.

Originally from Missouri, Tinsley played only one year of high school football, yet still managed to record 19 receptions for 350 yards and six touchdowns as a senior.

The Central Ohio High School Sports Awards are part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards program.

His unconventional start didn’t deter him. Tinsley began his college journey at Hutchinson Community College, where he spent two seasons and posted 57 receptions for 656 yards and four touchdowns. His performance earned him a transfer to Western Kentucky, where he emerged as a standout. In 2021, he delivered a breakout season with 87 receptions for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns, numbers that placed him among the nation’s top receivers.

Seeking to prove himself at the highest collegiate level, he transferred again, this time to Penn State. There, he continued to shine, recording 51 receptions for 577 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.

Tinsley signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent and appeared in two games as a rookie. After spending the 2024 season on Washington’s practice squad, he signed with the Bengals.