Contrast between college, pro opinion on Amarius Mims apparent in post-selection comments

Amarius Mims is a prospect that creates plenty of discussion. At 6-foot-8, 340 pounds, he’s got the frame to be an incredible offensive tackle. Those same factors made him a five-star coming out of Bleckley County High School in 2021. However, with just eight career starts under his belt, there’s certainly reason for questions. That contrast is apparent listening to the comments of the college and NFL analysts when discussion the selection by Cincinnati at No. 18.

On one hand, there’s Mel Kiper Jr. Both he and Louis Riddick on the ESPN broadcast focused more on the NFL side praised Mims.

“Had he stayed healthy or gone back to Georgia, you would’ve been looking at mock drafts for 2025 that had him in the top 5 to 10 overall,” Kiper said. “6-foot-7.5, 340 pounds and the biggest hands I’ve seen in a while. Long, long arms. Unbelievable arm length. Only eight starts, he had the ankle this year, but if you look at him, I love his footwork and agility for such a huge massive bookend. Run blocker, you talk about his powerful hands, he displaces defenders on initial contact and down blocking prowess, developing into a force at the second level, that can happen. As a pass blocker he’s still a bit raw, but he has pretty good movement, the power of a base anchor and arms to lock out. Coaching Amarius Mims, he’s inexperienced, but if you could draw up a right tackle – Trent Brown is a veteran, but you’ve got Joe Burrow who’s had injury issues at times, Amarius Mims is a developmental right tackle.”

“When Amarius ties his lower body in with that reach and the punch and the shock he has in his upper body, he’s going to remind you of JC Latham. They’re really the same type of guy, it’s just Latham plays with more power I believe in his lower half and plays with better bend. Amarius plays a little bit taller, he’s a little bit bigger of a guy, but I’ll tell you this, he fits what Cincinnati looks for with their tackles,” Riddick added. “Bigger guys who have athleticism that they try to continue to develop. They understand Joe Burrow has to stay healthy because when he is, they are right there are the top of the AFC and can challenge anyone. You have to fortify the offensive line which has been a problem. He’s been hit too much since coming into the league.”

Meanwhile, on the ABC set featuring the College GameDay crew, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and company were a bit more critical. They have concerns.

“This guy’s got all the tools. He’s got great size, he’s got great power. But it makes you wonder, how did the guy only start 8 (games)? Like, in the SEC Championship Game, he played only the first 15 plays of the game and then he’s out. Takes himself out. I don’t know what he injured, what he hurt, whatever, but you’ve got to be a little bit more consistent in your performance if you’re going to be a great player and a starter in the National Football League,” Saban said. “One of the things that I see in guys, he went to a small high school. He was always bigger and better than everybody else. So do you ever really develop the traits that you need to have to compete against guys that are as good as you? He’s gonna play against guys that are as good as him, now. So if he didn’t develop those habits, he better focus on them now.”

“I’m thinking, eight career starts and you’re going to have to protect Joe Burrow at the next level? You’re a first round pick? He has great traits, but he must be a project,” Desmond Howard added. “He just doesn’t have enough film. Too small of a sample size to put him out there with Joe Burrow. I’m assuming he’s a project … It’s a grown man’s game now.”

Folks at Georgia are aware of the questions. Mims and head coach Kirby Smart heard them throughout the pre-draft process. However, both feel confident in the ability to answer them early in his NFL career.

“What does that matter if you’ve blocked Travon Walker, Nolan Smith, Robert Beal your whole career,” Smart said. “What does eight starts matter? Would you rather have someone who started 27 games and played against nobody, or somebody who played against first-round draft picks every day in practice? I know which one I’m picking.”

The former five-star arrived on Georgia’s campus in 2021 and sat behind future draft selections Jamaree Salyer and Warren McClendon during his first season. He played in eight games as a second-teamer as a freshman before making a jump into the rotation the next season. His bio won’t show but two starts in 2022 for the National Championship winning Dawgs but the snap counts and film won’t lie: he was a starter in Smart’s eyes.

“He started last year for me. The year before last he started almost every game in terms of he was in the second or third series,” Smart said. “I think when you look over the history, there have been some really successful linemen that have been three-and-out that didn’t start in that window. He’s uber-talented. He works really hard. He’s really intelligent. He’s going to play a long time in the NFL.”

As for Mims, he too would go to bat for himself. After missing half the season for Georgia in 2023 due to injury, Mims wanted to put on a show at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He ran an impressive 5.07 40-yard dash on his first attempt before tweaking his hamstring on a second try. That set him back and sidelined him for UGA’s Pro Day in April and prompted Mims to set up a private workout with teams in April. As for the burning question about his lack of starts, he too felt his experience every day at practice has him prepared to play at the next level.

“I know my sample size of starts and snaps isn’t as great as everybody else but I’m fortunate enough to go to the best university in the nation, where they prepared me on and off the field,” Mims said during an interview at UGA’s Pro Day. “So I fell like that will help.”

“Those guys, highly touted guys, they’re doing very well in the league right now. Going against those guys definitely prepared me,” he added about the likes of Walker, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Georgia’s other first round draft picks during his time. “I remember coming in freshman year and practice was miserable. They made my life very miserable freshman year going against those guys. I’m very thankful for what they did for me.”

Mims is Georgia’s second selection on Thursday night joining tight end Brock Bowers to the Las Vegas Raiders. He is the 17th first round selection from Georgia coached by Kirby Smart and the 57th Bulldog taken in total.

The NFL Draft continues Friday and Saturday with the second/third and fourth/fifth/sixth/seventh rounds where several more former Georgia players are expected to come off the board. Coverage can be found on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network starting at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and noon on Saturday.