Possible 1st-rounder Mims leaves Dawgs for draft
-
Pete Thamel, ESPN
Georgia junior right tackle Amarius Mims is leaving school early to declare for the NFL draft, he told ESPN on Sunday.
Mims projects as one of the draft’s top tackles and a potential first-round pick. At a position that’s typically one of significant need in the NFL, Mims is ranked No. 5 in a loaded tackle class by ESPN NFL draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr.
The 6-foot-7, 340-pound Mims allowed only one pressure and zero sacks in more than 150 pass blocking plays this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He has started eight games during his career.
Mims was limited by an ankle injury this year and started just six games. He said he came to his decision after multiple conversations with Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who Mims said ultimately told him he had enough film to declare.
“The first thing on my mind was, ‘Did I play enough?'” Mims told ESPN. “I felt like after I got back late in the year, I took a step forward with my play, as Tennessee and Georgia Tech were the two best games I played this year.”
Scouts see Mims’ size and movement ability and are excited about his talent. He will be one of the most intriguing players in the pre-draft process, as he brings immense physical gifts and strong tape.
“I’m excited to make my family proud,” Mims said of his decision. “I’d probably say since I was 13, I was very specific with my dad. I wanted to be a three-and-done and possible first-round draft pick.”
That notion could well become reality. In his three years at Georgia, he has seen a slew of his teammates achieve the same dream. Mims said he is going to bring leadership and dedication to whatever franchise picks him.
“I feel like they’ll be getting someone who is willing to learn and take coaching from older guys who’ve been there before me, someone who is ready to work and a winner,” Mims said. “I’ve been around winners since I got to Georgia. There’s no need to stop now.
“I love being around a locker room full of guys who have love for each other. A bunch of guys rallying around one common cause — and that’s to win.”
Mims said he is excited to enter the pre-draft process. He said he was going to be focused on “not getting relaxed” as he realizes “the bigger steps come after this.”
He did take a moment to reflect on his journey, as he made a point to thank everyone who supported him.
“I want to thank every coach that helped me along the way — youth league, middle school, high school and college,” he said. “And obviously my family; without them it wouldn’t be possible at all.”
TORONTO — Blue Jays outfielder George Springer skipped into third base on a key RBI hit by teammate Alejandro Kirk, and hopped right into an inning-ending out in the fifth on Sunday against the Athletics.
Springer was called out following a replay review after Athletics third baseman Max Schuemann alertly kept his glove on the Blue Jays right fielder while Springer hopped up and down on third base.
Springer, who had reached on an RBI single that opened the scoring for Toronto, was celebrating Kirk’s double that cut the deficit to 3-2.
The out call meant Toronto slugger Addison Barger didn’t get to bat with runners at second and third.
Schuemann had just entered the game as a defensive replacement, taking over for Miguel Andujar.
The Athletics had lost five straight and 16 of 17 entering Sunday.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Slumping Rangers slugger Adolis García was held out of Texas’ lineup for the third consecutive day Sunday, with president of baseball operations Chris Young saying the club wants the 2023 ALCS MVP to make some mechanical changes.
“We need him to kind of commit to some of these changes that we think will get him back to the ’23 version of himself and help him be the player that we know he can be,” Young said before Texas’ series finale against St. Louis.
García is hitting .155 in the past 20 games with 25 strikeouts. He is hitting .208 overall, with seven homers and a team-high 27 RBIs for a Rangers club that has struggled offensively. He ranked 14th in the majors with 122 home runs over the past four seasons.
García, who has started 55 of Texas’ 60 games in right field this season, missed only one other game before this weekend, with manager Bruce Bochy saying Friday that García was being given a mental break.
“It’s about the mental reset and coming back with more energy,” García told reporters Saturday. “I’m working on some stuff without the pressure of having to do something up there.”
García, 32, is in the final season of a two-year contract.
The anticipated return of Evan Carter to the active roster Tuesday, joining Wyatt Langford, Alejandro Osuna and Sam Haggerty, further crowds the Rangers outfield as García tries to return to the lineup.
“It’s going to be performance-driven at this point,” Young said.
Texas also made three roster moves before Sunday’s game. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (triceps fatigue) was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Thursday, catcher Tucker Barnhart was designated for assignment, and right-hander Codi Heuer was selected from Triple-A Round Rock.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway