Oklahoma Starting 11: Wide Receiver Marvin Mims

So the 5-foot-11, 177-pound Mims is back, and that’s a very good thing for the Oklahoma offense. His freshman and sophomore seasons, Mims was easily the Sooners’ best receiver, and emerged as one of the top talents in the Big 12 Conference — and one of the most dangerous downfield threats in the nation.

Earlier this month, wideouts coach Cale Gundy hinted there might be bigger things ahead.

“We feel very good with Marvin Mims,” Gundy said, “with the offseason he has had.”

Marvin Mims scores a 55-yard touchdown in the Alamo Bowl. 

Despite not many catches, Mims was OU's most productive receiver in 2020-21.

Mims averaged 22 yards per catch during the 2021 season.

In 2020, Mims set the Big 12 record for touchdown catches by a freshman with nine.

As a freshman, Mims earned Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America and was voted second-team All-Big 12. He tied for the team lead with 37 receptions for a team-best 610 yards (16.5 yards per catch) and scored a Big 12 Conference freshman record nine touchdowns.

During his sophomore season, Mims was honorable mention All-Big 12 after catching 32 passes for 705 yards (22.0 yards per catch) and five TDs.

More Mims in 2022 would certainly serve Lebby’s offense well, so this is a big spring for Mims to pick up the playbook and build chemistry with new quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

A consensus 4-star prospect from Frisco, TX, was a priority recruit for the Sooners after setting Texas state records for career receiving yards (5,485) and single-season receiving yard (2,629).

As a high school senior, Mims caught 117 passes and scored 32 touchdowns, bringing his career total to more than 60.

Mims chose OU over Stanford but also had offers from Colorado, Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Wisconsin and others.

While the passing game has struggled at times over the past two seasons, Mims was productive but could have been utilized much more. Still, he played the good soldier.

Those days, however, may be over. To hear Gundy tell it, Mims isn’t all that quiet any more.

“He’s taken huge steps in being more of a vocal guy,” Gundy said.

Does that mean more throws in Mims’ direction for his junior season? Maybe. Maybe Lebby has been planning on just that — at least since the Alamo Bowl, when Mims caught just two passes but hauled in one of those for a 55-yard touchdown.

“You guys have seen he’s kind of calm and always has that smile on his face,” Gundy said. “He has really taken big steps in being a leader on this offense.”

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