Marvin Mims is a well known commodity within the states of Texas and Oklahoma. However his 2023 NFL Draft scouting report exhibits why he needs to be on the nationwide radar. Mims and Oklahoma enter 2022 with a brand new head coach, offensive play-caller, and quarterback. Whereas change two years right into a profession and the primary 12 months of draft eligibility would usually be a destructive, it might simply be what the physician orders for Mims’ skilled growth.
Marvin Mims NFL draft profile
Texas is a hotbed for highschool soccer expertise. Born and raised in Frisco, Mims understood that effectively. And but, whereas at Lone Star Excessive College, he ascended to a stage by no means earlier than seen. As a senior, Mims hauled in 117 receptions for a nationwide file of two,629 yards and 32 touchdowns. He additionally holds Texas’ highschool profession receiving yards file (5,485) — 82 greater than Ohio State star WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Regardless of 30+ affords on the desk as a four-star recruit, Mims determined to take his skills to Oklahoma. And since stepping on campus, enterprise has been boomin.
In 2020, Mims grew to become the first-ever Oklahoma broad receiver to earn FWAA Freshman All-American honors. Moreover, he continued his record-breaking methods, catching probably the most touchdowns (9) in OU freshman historical past. He’s led the Sooners in receiving yards in every of his two collegiate seasons, totaling 69 receptions for 1,315 yards and 14 TDs.
Though the stat sheet was wholesome, Mim’s relationship with the teaching workers wasn’t. He almost transferred this offseason, saying, “I simply needed a change.” Properly, that change got here to him, as head coach Lincoln Riley, quarterback Caleb Williams, and broad receivers Mario Williams and Jadon Haselwood all left Norman.
- Place: Large Receiver
- College: Oklahoma
- Present Yr: Junior
- Peak/Weight: 5’11”, 184 kilos
Marvin Mims scouting report
New head coach Brent Venables has carried out a brand new tradition on the town, and the workforce has purchased in. “Positively physicality,” Mims mentioned. “The issues we do in apply are far more bodily than traditional. That’s in all probability the most important adjustment to me, simply the best way that we apply, operating on and off the sphere. Every part that we do needs to be elite. He’s not going to accept something much less.”
Becoming a member of Venables as Norman newcomers are offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and QB Dillon Gabriel. Lebby was Gabriel’s QB coach and OC at UCF in 2019, so rekindling their chemistry might be a high precedence. Now reunited at Oklahoma, count on the offense to stay excessive octane, with Mims the unquestioned No. 1 choice. However what precisely does Mims provide as an NFL draft prospect?
The place Mims wins
Everyone knows Smith-Njigba, Kayshon Boutte, and Jordan Addison. Even TCU’s Quentin Johnston has a rising fanbase, together with PFN’s very personal Ian Cummings. But, Mims needs to be within the top-five dialog.
Mims’ velocity is evident to see, and I’m not simply speaking deep velocity — although he doesn’t lack in that division (over 63% of his targets got here 10+ yards downfield final season). The Oklahoma WR is an explosive athlete with the power to speed up immediately. Double-moves to work upfield (comparable to a sluggo) are straightforward chunk positive aspects as Mims vegetation his foot and hits the afterburners. Because the saying goes, “if he’s even, he’s leavin.” Moreover, Mims can tempo his routes, lulling DBs right into a false sense of safety earlier than crossing their face.
Mims is a yards-after-the-catch monster however not within the “make you miss” mildew. As an alternative, he pulls away, makes use of his imaginative and prescient to search out holes on the fly, and easily outruns defenders for additional yardage. He has sufficient wiggle and begin/cease skill to pressure an occasional missed sort out, however that’s not his sport.
What’s Mims’ sport is as a flexible, sure-handed weapon. He can line up because the X, within the slot, or because the Z. Mims hasn’t confronted a lot press so far, with 60% of his snaps coming from the slot, however his launch repertoire is strong sufficient. Equally, he solely confronted true man protection on roughly 15% of collegiate targets. Nonetheless, towards zone, Mims confirmed a wonderful really feel of spacing and discovering pockets to make himself out there for his QB.
Nevertheless, the place Mims actually shines is with the ball within the air. Drops are a non-factor, and he could make acrobatic catches away from his body with ease — activate the Tulane and Texas video games final season. Contact doesn’t faze Mims, as he retains his eyes on the ball and appears passes in. He’s additionally undeterred by passes over the center, securing the reception by violent hits. Moreover, Mims routinely assaults the soccer and doesn’t watch for it to achieve his chest plate. His palms are a few of the most dependable within the nation.
However wait, there’s extra! Oklahoma typically requested Mims to be the lead blocker on WR screens regardless of his smaller stature. That’s doubtless because of his clear aggressive toughness. Mims simply performs larger than his listed 5’11” and 184 kilos. Certain, stronger/bigger defenders will get the perfect of him, however he’ll go down swinging. Oh, and Mims has expertise as a punt and kick returner, additional including to his attract.
Mims’ areas for enchancment
I really like Mims. His tape has already turned him into one among “my guys” for the 2023 cycle. However even I can acknowledge his faults.
Chief of which is, in fact, his measurement. There’s no getting round the truth that Mims will wrestle towards longer, extra bodily DBs. Scheming him open and providing him room to work might be extra essential for NFL OCs than on the collegiate stage. And whereas Mims has sufficient juice to unfold defenses vertically, he isn’t a sub-4.4 velocity demon. Therein lies Mims’ most vital barrier to a excessive NFL draft choose: He’s small with out game-changing velocity.
Because of this, the Oklahoma WR should be near-perfect in each different side. So how can Mims get there? First, he should remove all wasted movement from his sport. On the line, Mims will typically cross his arms over his knee, lengthen his knees an excessive amount of, and stand upright. All of which not solely permits a DB to shock him off the snap but additionally requires a minimum of one additional step earlier than working upfield. I’ll say Mims’ electrical acceleration affords him some room for error right here, however that may dwindle within the execs.
He should grasp the route tree and route-running nuances. Mims snaps down on the high of routes and makes use of his first step to information his physique into his subsequent transfer. However sometimes, he’ll elevate his pad stage on the high of stems, giving DBs extra time to react in addition to forcing additional steps to get out of the break. Underneath Riley, Mims primarily ran publish/nook variations alongside velocity outs, slants, and WR screens. Sadly, his route tree will not be far more various in Lebby’s RPO-heavy offense.
Present draft projection for Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims
Mims can’t do a lot about his naturally slender construct. In spite of everything, there’s solely a lot muscle mass he can placed on earlier than sacrificing his trademark athleticism and physique management. Thus, Mims profiles as a slot-first receiver, though I consider he has the power to play the Z when wanted.
Mims has the instruments to be a productive NFL receiver and can doubtless hear his title known as within the Day 2 vary. If he can enhance on his wasted movement, showcase a broader route tree, and improve his manufacturing as Oklahoma’s high weapon with a brand new OC/QB combo, Mims ought to simply crack the highest 50 picks.
Mims needed change. Now that he has it, it’s as much as him to earn a excessive choice within the 2023 NFL Draft.
