Amarius Mims is not worried about what Nick Saban thinks of his play. The 21-year-old offensive lineman is confident in his abilities
He can’t wait to prove to the greatest college football coach of all-time that his opinion is wrong.
Mims was drafted No. 18 overall by Cincinnati during the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Saban, who almost coached him in Tuscaloosa, questioned his consistency.
In the SEC championship game, he played the first 15 plays of the game and he’s out — takes himself out. I don’t know what he injured, what he hurt, whatever, but you got to be a little more consistent if you’re going to be a great player and starter in the National Football League.
— Nick Saban
To be fair, there were a lot of people who questioned Mims’ lack of reps on the collegiate level. The 6-foot-8 offensive tackle made only eight starts in 29 games over three seasons at Georgia after initially committing to Alabama. His absurdly large frame and athleticism cannot be replicated, however, there are concerns about his ability to make the jump to the next level.
All of the outside noise, including Saban’s criticism, does not concern Mims.
Everybody has their own opinions of me. I don’t really care about what he said or what he had to say, honestly. I’m just glad to be a Cincinnati Bengal.
— Amarius Mims
Mims’ lack of time on the Field also did not worry the Bengals enough not to draft him inside the Top 20. His limited tape was impressive to the point that Cincinnati finds him to be a can’t-miss prospect.
Had he played this whole season, the way he played in the tape we saw, there’s a very low chance that we’re even having an opportunity to pick him.
— Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher
Although Mims shrugged off Saban’s scrutiny, there are no hard feelings. A mutual respect still exists.
I got a lot of respect for Coach Saban, even when he said that. He’s one of the greatest college head coaches. It is what it is.
— Amarius Mims
With an ankle injury fully behind him, Amarius Mims joins a massive offensive line in Ohio. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and right tackle Trent Brown are also 6-foot-8.
Their presence on the roster will allow the big rookie to learn the ropes from two extremely talented veterans. There is no reason for the Bengals to rush him into the lineup or force him to play before he is fully ready. They can take the time to work through the kinks and “fix” the lack of consistency that left Saban with concerns about his ability to compete in the NFL!