Marvin

Mims Jr.

Mims (5'11/177) was a standout for the Oklahoma offense in 2021, recording 32 receptions for 705 yards with five touchdowns. While he’s already starting to receive a good bit of attention from the national media ahead of the season, that’s something that could grow even more into the fall. Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus is among those who are high on what Mims brings to the table, saying that the wideout “is going to be an integral piece for the Sooners in 2022.” That shouldn’t take anyone by surprise after what Mims put up on tape last season.

Mims (5'11/177) finished out the 2021 season with 32 receptions for 705 yards with five touchdowns. He’s getting some pop ahead of the 2022 season for the work he’s put up on film and is expected by many to be the best wide receiver in the Big 12. But this hype goes beyond just the conference itself. According to Pro Football Focus, Mims is the No. 8 wide receiver in the country before the fall rolls around. Mims has a chance to continue rising through the rankings and could take another step in 2022.

Once Reilly bolted for Los Angeles, there were a lot of Sooners that entered the transfer portal, and for good reason. Some of them followed Reilly to USC and others saw the chaos and decided to leave. Mims (5'11"/177) almost left as well. “There wasn’t as many targets as I was looking for, nowhere near it,” Mims said. “It was kind of a letdown, but at the end of the day I had to just keep battling through it.” Mims almost left due to “wanting a change,” but he got that with Brent Venables and especially Jeff Lebby. “You’re talking about one of the top three offensive coordinators in the country statistically. He’s just a great guy.” Mims returning to the Sooners is huge for their prospects this season and he will be the top target for new quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Mims (5'11/177) has been one of the best receivers in the Big 12 I’ve the last couple of years as he leads the conference with an 86.5 receiving grade. He’s an incredible route runner but also has the speed to stretch downfield for the big play, as he led the Sooners with 22 yards per catch last year. He considered the transfer portal after Lincoln Riley left for USC but decided to stay. This year he has former UCF quarterback Dillion Garbriel, who has two 3,500+ passing yards seasons, throwing to him. He can certainly help Mims continue to be a top receiver in the conference.

Mims (5'11/177) entertained the idea of the transfer portal last season after the Sooners saw Lincoln Reilly depart for USC. Mims ultimately decided to stick things out at Oklahoma for 2022 and could be one of the top players in next year’s draft should he declare. Last season with the Sooners, Mims totaled 32 receptions for 705 yards and five touchdowns, and had a receiving line of 37-610-9 as a freshman.

It should be no surprise that Mims (5'11/177) is considering entering the transfer portal. After Lincoln Reilly left for USC, there has been a mass exodus including Spencer Rattler, Austin Stogner, Jadon Haseslwood, and Theo Wease either having been rumored to enter the portal or have officially entered. The belief is that Mims is considering the portal mainly due to his limited usage in the offense, as he didn’t catch a touchdown until week six and was only targeted 39 times on the season. Mims in his career has 67 catches for 1,258 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Mims (5'11/177) was in big-play mode against the Red Raiders, catching a pair of long touchdowns which has become his calling card since Caleb Williams took over the starting quarterback job. His first 67-yard touchdown came on a deep out patter that Caleb Williams threw on a rope, allowing Mims to turn it upfield when the defensive back tried in vain to break up the pass. His other score came on a fly pattern where he toasted his man for a 43-yard touchdown reception to give OU an insurmountable 38-7 lead. Mims will enjoy a bye before traveling to Waco to take on a surging Baylor Bears team.

True to form, Mims (5'11/177) caught the longest pass of the day for the Sooners, a 50-yard strike from Spencer Rattler. He was efficient as well, securing five-of-six targets thrown his way and leading all receivers in yardage on the day. He joined Mario Williams and Mike Woods as the three wideouts who were targeted at least six times, as the speedy wideout created consistent separation thought the game. Mims will look to post his fourth career 100-yard game next weekend against Western Carolina.

Mims (5'11/177) caught 37-of-49 passes for 610 yards, 16.5 yards per reception and nine touchdowns despite only starting one of eleven games in 2020. His 4.07 yards per route run was sensational and an average target depth of 15.4 yards shows how he was used as a dangerous downfield weapon. Mims figures to be a fixture in the Sooners’ starting lineup and the favorite target of Heisman front-runner QB Spencer Rattler.

The Cyclones, while playing tough defense this year, had a bad habit of getting nicked over-the-topped. Mims (5'11/177) exploited this weakness, hauling in a 45-yard TD from Spencer Rattler to put the Sooners up 14-0 at the start of the second quarter. This was the first time during Mims’ freshman season that he’s caught over five passes in a game, and it’s the second time he’s gone over the 100-yard receiving mark. He and Rattler will for a dangerous duo in Norman for years to come.