Oklahoma football: WR Marvin Mims declaring for NFL Draft

Oklahoma's Marvin Mims Jr. (17) celebrates a return on a kick off in the first half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.marvin mims
Oklahoma's Marvin Mims Jr. (17) celebrates a return on a kick off in the first half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.marvin mims /
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Oklahoma football wide receiver Marvin Mims has made the decision on his future, and it does not include Oklahoma.

Mims announced on Friday that he was going to forego his final two seasons of eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft.

The Sooners’ lead receiving threat the past two seasons, Mims’ chances of returning for the 2023 season were considered 50/50 at best. Early mock drafts have him as a top-60 selection but not higher than a second-round pick at this stage. That could change, however, between now and the draft scheduled for April in Kansas City.

In three seasons at Oklahoma, the former four-star recruit out of Frisco, Texas, caught 23 passes for 2,398 yards, 20 touchdowns and an average of 19.5 yards per catch. His best season was in 2022, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards with 1,083 on a career-high 54 receptions and six touchdowns.

Mims ranks in the OU program history for receiving yards (eighth), receiving touchdowns (10th) and receptions (15th).

“To my brothers and coaches, thank you for pouring into me and pushing me every day to be the best person I could be on and off the field,” Mims said in a twitter message sent on Friday.

Mims joins Sooner teammates RB Eric Gray, O-linemen Anton Harrison, Wanya Morris, DB C.J. Colden and D-lineman Jalen Redmond in declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Returning next season for OU at wide receiver are Jahlil Farooq, Drake Stoops, Jayden Gibson, Gavin Freeman and Nic Anderson. The Sooners also have a couple of elite receiving prospects in their 2023 recruiting class. Jaquaize Pettaway and Keyon Brown are both rated a four-stars.

Tight end Austin Stogner also returns to Oklahoma in 2023 after one transfer season at South Carolina. Stogner was a member of OU’s 2019 recruiting class and played three seasons at OU. In 23 games as a Sooner, Stogner had 47 receptions for 864 yards and eight touchdowns.