Mitchell Tinsley started his collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College in 2018. After barely playing as a freshman, he led Hutchinson in receiving with 47 receptions for 556 yards, doubling the next leading receiver. After Hutchinson, Tinsley found his next home at Western Kentucky for the 2020 season, where he led the team in all receiving stats.
2021 saw Western Kentucky jump from the 115th-ranked scoring offense to the 2nd-ranked scoring offense and Tinsley finished with a video game stat line of 87-1402-14, which did NOT lead the team in any of those categories. With a final season of eligiblity, Tinsley transferred to Penn State to play against top competition. His 51 receptions and five touchdowns led Penn State, while his 577 receiving yards were right beind Parker Washington's 611.
