Tag: Jadon Haselwood

Sooners WR Marvin Mims makes PFF Preseason All-America Third-Team

Oklahoma Sooners WR Marvin Mims was named a preseason third-team All-American selection by Pro Football Focus.

Pro Football Focus recently released their College Preseason All-America Team, and but one Oklahoma Sooner received the honor of being recognized: [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] on the third team. Punter [autotag]Michael Turk[/autotag], and defensive lineman [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] both received honorable mentions.

The former four-star wide receiver has been cast as Oklahoma’s No. 1 target for new quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] after the Sooners lost Mario Williams and [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag] to the transfer portal and Michael Woods went to the NFL. Each of those guys that left received more targets than Mims last season and while he had fewer touchdowns compared to 2020, Mims had more receiving yards to lead the team for the second consecutive season.

The Sooners’ passing game took a jump when Caleb Williams took over from Spencer Rattler, but there just seemed to be a lack of consistency. All too often, Oklahoma would hit a wall, unable to push the ball downfield.

While Mims is poised to breakout in his junior season, he is still a step or two behind another Big 12 wide receiver, Texas’ Xavier Worthy. Worthy was a second-team selection on PFF’s All-American teams.

If Mims is to take this leap, he needs to be a more consistent threat to put some points on the board. He had five touchdowns last season. Two of them were against Texas, two were against Texas Tech, and one was against Oregon in the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag]. He was held scoreless in every other game.

The only other 100-yard receiving game he had last season that wasn’t against Texas Tech or Texas was in week one against Tulane.

Mims opportunities were a problem in 2021. While he didn’t produce consistently, [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] didn’t make getting Mims the ball an emphasis in the offense. Here’s what Sooners Wire managing editor John Williams wrote last month.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense struggled with consistency throughout 2021. In the passing game, Oklahoma failed to get the ball to their best playmaker in Marvin Mims. He had three or fewer targets in nine games last season. Against Oklahoma State, when the offense was struggling to move the ball in the second half, Mims saw just two targets. Six players saw more targets than Mims in that game. His one reception was a four-yard catch. – Williams, Sooners Wire

There are quite a few familiar faces spread across the three teams. Former Sooners [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Mario Williams[/autotag] both made the second team. [autotag]Bijan Robinson[/autotag] (Texas) and [autotag]Deuce Vaughn[/autotag] (Kansas State) were both first-team running backs.

If Marvin Mims plays like a top 10 wide receiver in the country, Jeff Lebby’s offense will be a lot of fun in year one.

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Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims named to 2022 Biletnikoff Award watch list

Expected to take another step forward in his production, wide receiver Marvin Mims was included on the 2022 Biletnikoff Award watch list.

Perhaps no player on the Oklahoma Sooners roster will benefit more from the change in offensive play caller than wide receiver Marvin Mims.

For the second season in a row, Mims led the Oklahoma Sooners in receiving yards, despite finishing fourth on the team in targets behind Jadon Haselwood, Michael Woods, and Mario Williams. Mims averaged 22 yards per reception last season and had huge days against Tulane, Texas, and Texas Tech.

Mims was incredibly underutilized down the stretch in 2021, receiving just eight targets the final three weeks of the season against Baylor, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State. Games in which the offense struggled for all or parts of those contests.

With a new play caller in Jeff Lebby and a believer in Brent Venables, Marvin Mims is about to take the college football world by storm.

Heading into year three with the Oklahoma Sooners, Marvin Mims has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list for 2022.

Awarded annually since 1994, the only Oklahoma Sooner to take home the Biletnikoff was Dede Westbrook back in 2016.

Mims, who admitted he would have transferred had Lincoln Riley stayed in Norman, will get a new lease on life in an offense that feeds its number one wide receiver. Ole Miss’ No. 1 receiver in 2021, Dontario Drummond, received 94 targets. That’s more than double the number of targets Marvin Mims received last season.

Drummond also had the fifth-most snaps among Rebels last season with 902. Marvin Mims was ninth on the Sooners in snaps played with just 470, second to Jadon Haselwood among wide receivers.

If Drummond’s usage is any indication, then Mims is looking at his first 1,000-yard season with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2022. For the Sooners to get back to the top of the mountain in the Big 12 and into contention for the College Football Playoff, Mims will need to be the focal point of the Sooners’ passing attack.

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Pittman: Hogs will replace Treylon Burks “by committee”

Ketron Jackson Jr., Warren Thompson and Jaden Haselwood have Arkansas set to replace Treylon Burks at wide receiver.

Treylon Burks might have re-written the Arkansas football record books had he stayed for another season in Fayetteville. Instead, he’s off to ply his trade in the NFL.

Replacing his production on offense – 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns – is paramount for the Razorbacks. But replacing him with just one player is a proposition few teams could accomplish.

So Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said, during his speaking time at SEC Media Days on Wednesday, the Hogs will do it in bulk.

“Ketron Jackson, I think, is going to have his best year,” Pittman said. “Warren Thompson and Bryce Stephens are ready to go. Those guys will help in addition to Jadon Haselwood and Matt Landers.”

Jackson and Thompson were the only regulars in the rotation last year among the group Pittman mentioned. Jackson had just five catches for 97 yards but his athleticism showed on a regular basis and he could be future No. 1. Thompson had 19 grabs for 304 yards and two touchdowns, making him Arkansas’ leading returner out wide.

Haselwood is largely expected to be the leading receiver. The Oklahoma transfer had 39 grabs for 399 yards and led the Sooners with six scores last year.

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Who is listed as Arkansas’ key departure according to On3?

Burks’ 2021 production will be hard to replace, and even harder to replicate says On3.

The rise of quarterback [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag] is what has propelled Arkansas football to higher expectations heading into the 2022 season.

Jefferson completed 67% of his passes for 2,676 yards last season. His return has Razorbacks fans and the national media alike believing that Arkansas has a high chance of dethroning Alabama for the top spot in the SEC West.

While Jefferson has the talent to become one of the league’s best quarterbacks this fall, he can credit most of last season’s success to his No. 1 target, [autotag]Treylon Burks[/autotag].

Burks reeled in 1,104 yards last season, and was on the receiving end of 11 of Jefferson’s 21 touchdown passes last season. Burks has moved on to the NFL after being selected 18th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft, leaving a huge spot to fill on offense.

On3 recently ranked listed the key departure for each program in the SEC West, whether it be due to the transfer portal or NFL Draft. For Arkansas, the selection is clearly Burks. On3 says that it will be hard to replicate the production that Burks handled in 2021, but believes that one playmaker will step up to fill that role.

Burks was the go-to playmaker for the Razorbacks, with Arkansas OC [autotag]Kendal Briles[/autotag] force-feeding the ball to the 6-2, 225-pound wideout with bubble-screens, quick slants and pop passes. Burks graded out as the No. 1 receiver in the SEC, per Pro Football Focus, and 607 of his 1,110 yards came after the catch. Burks was also extremely sure-handed, dropping just three balls all season despite a heavy workload. The Hogs are hoping former 5-star Oklahoma transfer [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag]can play a similar role but those are some major shoes to fill in 2022.

Who else joins Burks as one of the SEC West’s key departures? Here’s a look at On3’s picks:

‘He’s a game changer’: Fresh start provides opportunity for Marvin Mims to have explosive 2022

In a new offense with a new quarterback, more opportunities could lead to an explosive season for Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims.

Heading into 2021, the expectations had risen for sophomore wide receiver Marvin Mims. After tieing for the team lead in receptions and leading the team in yards and touchdowns, many expected Mims to take another step forward in performance and production.

While his yards per reception exploded from 16.5 in 2020 to 22 in 2021, he saw fewer targets and recorded fewer receptions than the year before. And Mims played in two more games in 2021 than he did his freshman year due to COVID.

Despite not having a 1,000-yard season to his name (yet), Mims was ranked No. 8 by Anthony Treash in Pro Football Focus’ top 25 wide receivers heading into 2022.

Depth at wide receiver limited Mims’ opportunities last year. Even with Theo Wease missing pretty much the entire season due to injury, oddly, Mims wasn’t utilized as much as he should have been in 2021.

Jadon Haselwood led the Oklahoma Sooners in snaps at wide receiver with 588. He received more than 100 snaps on the offensive side of the ball than Marvin Mims. Compare that to a school like Alabama, who had one of the most prolific offenses in the country, and they had three wide receivers with more than 600 snaps on the season. Slade Bolden, who was third on the Crimson Tide with 57 targets, still had 16 more targets than Mims, who finished fourth on the Oklahoma Sooners. Jameson Williams and John Metchie each recorded more than 100 targets on the season. Mims was fourth on the Sooners in targets behind Haselwood, Michael Woods, and Mario Williams. He had just four more targets than Jeremiah Hall.

Mims admitted on Thursday at Big 12 media days that the lack of opportunities was frustrating.

“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. There were times where I was really unhappy about it with both the receiver coach and the offensive coordinator, but it was what it was.”

The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense struggled with inconsistency several times in 2021. In the passing game, Oklahoma failed to get the ball to their best playmaker in Marvin Mims. He had three or fewer targets in nine games last season. Against Oklahoma State, when the offense was struggling to move the ball in the second half, Mims saw just two targets. Six players saw more targets than Mims in that game. His one reception was a four-yard catch.

Despite the lack of opportunities, Mims’ big play ability allowed him to the lead the Sooners in receiving yards for the second year in a row.

In a new offensive system, Mims will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of returning Sooners. The break neck pace that Jeff Lebby wants to play at will increase the number of snaps per game, increasing the number of opportunities Mims and the rest of the wide receiver group will receive.

Dontario Drummond, who led the Ole Miss Rebels in receiving in 2021 saw 802 snaps last season. That led to 94 targets that Drummond turned into 76 receptions for 1,031 yards and eight touchdowns.

Imagine if Marvin Mims saw a similar workload? Well we might just see that this year.

Mims and new starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel are building a rapport. One that should lead to opportunities for the electric wide receiver to easily eclipse his numbers from his first two years in Norman, which will further put into question the lack of usage.

“I think what’s really cool about me and Marvin is we’re very similar in just the way we approach football, but also the way we approach life,” Gabriel shared with the media at Big 12 media days. “And as we connected and continue to have conversations over the past six or seven months, I just feel really confident in the person he is. He’s a great human being and someone that I’d love to be friends with. And that’s why this relationship has been so smooth, so easy. And that’s like not even on the field, right? What he’s been able to do on the field is elite. He’s a game changer. And he’s proven it last year, but what he’s about to do this year is take it to a whole another level. And I’ve seen him grow in so many ways.”

Heading into his third year, the only returning primary receiver from last year, and with the full support of his quarterback and his offensive coordinator, Marvin Mims looks like a player about to explode in 2022.

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Complete list of Arkansas football’s preseason All-SEC players across publications

Ten different Arkansas players have been honored with preseason All-SEC selections. Can you name them all without looking?

Summertime in the South, the silly season.

It’s the time of the year, just before SEC Media Days in July, when predictors and prognosticators across the college football landscape are dropping predicted orders of finish and preseason all-conference players.

Three of the most significant of those all-SEC selections are with Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, the two most respected college-football-preview magazine publishers in the game. The other comes from AL.com, where the league’s 14 sports information directors make their selections.

Here, we’ve gathered all three that include Arkansas players in one list. It should help in the coming two months when we all get excited for the season to kickoff in September.

College Football News suggests this non-conference team could upset Arkansas in 2022

Is there a “sure win” on the 2022 schedule that could end up being an upset?

After completing their most successful season in a decade in 2021, the Arkansas Razorbacks have higher-than-usual expectations heading into 2022.

With the likes of [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag], [autotag]Raheim Sanders[/autotag], and [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag] leading the offense, as well as [autotag]Jalen Catalon[/autotag] and [autotag]Drew Sanders[/autotag] being impact players on defense, it is easy to see why Arkansas could win 9-10 games this season. But, is there a “sure win” on the schedule that Razorback fans should be worried about? College Football News says yes.

In a list titled, “SEC Top Letdown Games for Every Team”, Ben Niewoehner of College Football News says that Arkansas’ potential “letdown” game is not against a conference opponent, but on the road at BYU. The Cougars themselves aren’t a threat to Arkansas, says Niewoehner, but where they are in the schedule could draw some concern.

How will Arkansas rebound from a three-week onslaught before making the tough trip to Provo? It will get on the plane after taking on Texas A&M in Arlington, Alabama, and at Mississippi State. The team will need a week off – that comes after the Cougars.

The Razorbacks and Cougars are set to meet for the first time on the gridiron on October 15 at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. The game at BYU will be the middle game of a three-game road trip beginning October 8 at Mississippi State, and concluding October 29 at Auburn.

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Drew Sanders named Arkansas’ “key newcomer” from the Transfer Portal

Sanders will be a key addition to the Razorback defense with his incredible pass rush ability, says On3.

Arkansas Football received nine players from the Transfer Portal for the 2022 recruiting cycle, with each athlete adding an individual element that will make the Razorbacks better.

For linebacker [autotag]Drew Sanders[/autotag], his ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks’ provides a much-needed boost to the Razorbacks’ defense.

Out of all nine transfers, expect Sanders to be the “key newcomer” says Mike Huguenin of On3.

Huguenin named his picks for the key newcomer from the transfer portal for each program of the SEC West and says that the Alabama transfer barely beat out wide receiver [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag], a transfer from Oklahoma, for the top spot for the Razorbacks.

WR Jadon Haselwood, a transfer from Oklahoma, is getting a lot of attention, but Sanders’ pass-rush ability could be vital for the Hogs. Both Haselwood and Sanders are former five-star recruits; Haselwood was so-so at OU, while Sanders got squeezed out for playing time with the Tide. Arkansas had 25 sacks last season, but only 13 in the eight SEC games. Revving up that aspect of the defense is a must, and that’s why Sanders’ arrival is so important. Sanders (6-5, 232) has good size, is a solid athlete and holds up nicely against the run.

Sanders played in 12 games for Alabama, starting in three games at the beginning of the 2021 season. In his limited playing time with Alabama, Sanders recorded 24 tackles, with 2.5 for loss. The Denton, Texas native saw action in 11 games during the 2020 season, where he made nine tackles.

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How ESPN evaluated the Oklahoma Sooners first offseason under Brent Venables

Culminating in an impressive spring game turnout, the Oklahoma Sooners’ first spring under Brent Venables reignited the program but how does ESPN feel about Venables’ first offseason in Norman?

It feels like an eternity has passed since the final whistle blew at the Alamo Bowl back in January and the visor was passed from [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] to [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. In a time of great upheaval for Oklahoma, expectations are still high for one of the country’s most storied and iconic teams.

ESPN’s Dave Wilson and Bill Connelly took a hard look at all 10 Big 12 teams and gave their thoughts on what we have learned so far and what each program needs to figure out before week one in the Fall.

Needless to say, the new guy in charge in Norman has been noticed.

What we learned this spring: Brent Venables looks comfortable in his first head-coaching gig, not a surprise since he’s been a staple as one of the most high-profile assistants in the country since his first stint at Oklahoma from 1999 to 2011. His offense will look different, with the departure of both of last year’s starting quarterbacks, [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag] (South Carolina) and [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] (USC). UCF transfer [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] has sole command now, including taking most of the reps in the spring game for both teams. In [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag]’s offense, they’ll play fast and have the talent to make it work. – Wilson and Connelly, ESPN

Venables has been learning and preparing for this opportunity his entire life. He exudes confidence and energy. His run as a defensive coordinator might have been lengthy, but he was picky and methodical in choosing his first head coaching job. That patience paid off when Oklahoma came calling.

He’s got Oklahoma’s arrow pointed up as they work to get back to the Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff. While the Sooners lost their two highly-rated quarterbacks to the transfer portal, they landed one of the most experienced signal-callers in Dillon Gabriel. His experience and ability will help get the Sooners off to a fast start in the 2022 season. His familiarity with what Lebby wants to do should help the Sooners offense be on the same page as they look to play and aggressive uptempo style on offense.

While a lot of positives came out of Norman this spring, there are still some things that ESPN would like to see by the time the Sooners open the season against UTEP.

What we need to learn by Week 1: Can Venables and new defensive coordinator Ted Roof shore up a defense that ranked 76th nationally last season and ranked 109th against the pass, allowing 261.8 yards per game? Will key departures (receivers [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag] and [autotag]Mario Williams[/autotag] and TE [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] among them) have an impact on offensive depth, especially with the tempo? There’s no question Oklahoma fans are energized by Venables’ return, but Lincoln Riley never lost more than two games a year and won four Big 12 titles in his five seasons. There are still big expectations at a place like Oklahoma, so there’s not much time for a learning curve. – Wilson and Bill ESPN

The questions they raise are fair. OU’s defensive woes have been well documented in the years. Despite Lincoln Riley’s unceremonious departure, the Sooners did enjoy very successful regular seasons under his watch. Venables won’t have much time to get comfortable.

That being said, staying in the Big 12 this season is a perfect opportunity for Venables to experience his first season as head coach before being thrown into the meat grinder that is the SEC. If all things go according to plan, the Sooners will have one, maybe two more Big 12 titles in the next year or two before making the move with Texas.

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How is Arkansas Football replacing their biggest losses from last season?

Arkansas football has high expectations for 2022, but what area will they need to address the most heading into the season?

Arkansas Football is one of the teams that everyone is looking forward to watching in 2022. There is plenty of excitement surrounding the return of KJ Jefferson at the quarterback position, as well as the stable of running backs and the potential of the transfer wide receivers such as [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag].

But, that seems to be where the focus is, on offense. How does Arkansas look defensively heading into the new season? That seems to be a burning question.

Tom VanHaaren of ESPN wrote a piece called “How college football’s way-too-early top 25 teams are replacing their biggest losses“, with Arkansas’ defense being the biggest question.

Arkansas, which ranks No. 20 in the way-too-early top 25 from ESPN, will be looking to replace eight key defenders including [autotag]Grant Morgan[/autotag], [autotag]Hayden Henry[/autotag], and [autotag]Tre Williams,[/autotag] as well as Joe Foucha and Greg Brooks Jr. who left Arkansas for LSU via the transfer portal.

Despite the losses, Arkansas reloaded by bringing in talent from the transfer portal, and that is where they can begin filling holes says VanHaaren.

On the defensive line, the Arkansas coaches signed LSU defensive end transfer [autotag]Landon Jackson[/autotag], who was the No. 78 prospect in the 2021 class. Georgia Tech transfer [autotag]Jordan Domineck[/autotag] will also help Jackson in the pass rush. In the secondary, the staff landed LSU corner transfer [autotag]Dwight McGlothern[/autotag] and Georgia safety [autotag]Latavious Brini[/autotag].

The Razorbacks also have to replace three members of the backfield, but have players to step up, such as Simeon Blair, Jalen Catalon, and Keuan Parker, who all have playing experience.

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