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NY Jets second-round pick Denzel Mims has quite an interesting background.

GaryM

By GaryM
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GaryM

GaryM

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The NY Jets went into the offseason with a glaring hole at the wide receiver position and no player will be asked to fill that hole more for the foreseeable future than Denzel Mimms. Mims was drafted with the 59th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and the Jets are obviously expecting big things from the former Baylor standout. While he may be a little rough around the edges, his blend of size, speed, and athleticism gives him one of the most intriguing skillsets of any receiver prospect to come out in the past five years.

And it’s that physical prowess that made the Jets take notice.

We’ve all read the stories of Mims’ talents on the gridiron. His collegiate honors, his strengths and weaknesses, and even his NFL projection have been discussed ad nauseum. But what about Mims off the field? What’s his background like? What are some captivating factoids about Mims as a person? Today, we attempt to take a look at the man behind the Jets’ second-round pick. We take a look at three interesting things about Denzel Mims.

Given his incredible athletic ability, it isn’t surprising to learn than Mims isn’t the first player in his family to play college football or even try his hand in the NFL. In fact, the 22-year-old boasts an incredible family lineage of football players.

For starters, three of his brothers played football up to the high school level. His cousin, David Mims II, played college ball at Texas State as a cornerback and had a brief stint in training camp with the Atlanta Falcons.

David’s father played college football at Baylor as well and also spent two years with the Falcons before being selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 expansion draft. Moreover, another one of Mims’ cousins, Keyarris Garrett, played football at Tulsa before spending a couple of seasons in training camp and on the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers. He’s since bounced around in the AAF, XFL, and is currently playing in the CFL .Garrett actually put together a more impressive college resume than his cousin — albeit playing lesser competition — leading the FBS in receiving yards back in 2015. It’s clear that Mims isn’t just some aberration in his family. Football is in his genes, in his blood. And he has a chance to be the most successful member of his athletically-gifted family. He should be given every chance to continue his family’s legacy and start his own with the Jets.

Mims grew up in the small town of Daingerfield, Texas which has a population of just over 2,400 people. Not the tiniest town out there, but certainly not a place you’d compare to the bigger cities around the country.

 

And when talking to the Philadelphia media leading up to the draft, Mims recounted his first time visiting a big city. Safe to say it wasn’t an experience he’ll remember fondly.

“I’ve been to Philadelphia one time, and it was last summer, before the season. I went with a couple teammates, and my head coach. We went up there, and we just spent a lot of time together.

The experience I had, I was very scared. I wasn’t familiar with the whole city, and it was a lot going on. You see a lot of people that look scary. I’m not a part of that, I don’t like that. So I mean, I had a bad experience, you could say, going up there for the first time. But I feel like if I just go there more, and I just get familiar with it, I could have a great time.”

Mims admitted to being “scared” and refers to the fact that there were “a lot of people that look scary.” City life certainly isn’t for everyone and it’s absolutely a vastly different experience than living in a smaller city in Texas.

But if he thinks Philaldpehia is big, I could only imagine what his thoughts are going to be on New York City.

Now with the Jets, Mims will be fully entrenched in the city lifestyle — one that he likely isn’t too familiar with. Of course, it’s not as if this is a cause for concern. But it should be somewhat of a culture shock for the young receiver at first.

At this point, we’re all very much aware of Mims’ incredible physical traits. The Baylor wideout tore up the NFL Combine this year putting together perhaps the best combined performance of anyone at the event. Mims posted the fastest three-cone drill among receivers, the third-fastest 40-yard dash, and placed top-10 in both the vertical jump and broad jump. Simply put, there are few athletes in the game that can match his physical talent. And with that in mind, it isn’t surprising to learn that Mims didn’t limit himself to only football. As with most young athletes, Mims participated in multiple sports growing up. But he wasn’t just a two-sport athlete. He wasn’t even a three-sport athlete. Instead, Mims excelled at four sports throughout his youth career.The Texas native was actually a standout baseball player until an arm injury forced him to give it up in his freshman year of high school. That same injury was the catalyst to move him from quarterback — a position he had played all throughout his young career — to wide receiver. It’s safe to say that’s not a decision he likely regrets.

But aside from baseball and football, Mims was a two-time all-district recipient in basketball and he also shined as a sprinter on his track team, winning the 2015 Class 3A 200-meter state championship (21.30) while setting a personal-best in the 100-meters (10.88).

Mims truly did it all in high school, but now a full-time receiver in the NFL, the hope is that he will add to his growing list of accomplishments with some football accolades.

The Jets love when their players have versatility and it’s hard to get any more versatile than a former four-sport star.

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GaryM

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I have to give JD accolades for trading down and getting this special player. I have confidence that he will turn into a very key player for us. He has great talent and already has a chip on his shoulder for falling in the draft. Sam and Denzil should be the future for many years.

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Vader

Vader

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52 minutes ago, David Harris said:

Luckily for Mims these Jets never need to sniff the city.  Florham Park is around some of the nicest suburbs in Jersey. Really enjoyed my years in that neck of the woods

Totally. I’m familiar w the area. I do know - as a flyers fan - that the players mostly live in NJ too and their practice rink is in vorhees. Dunno about any other Philly sports tho 

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68JET11

68JET11

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Contrary to popular belief NJ has some wonderful places, and is quite beautiful. That's why I don't live there anymore lol... Seriously if it weren't for how expensive and the taxes, it's a nice place to live. Lived in Somerset County most of my entire life, before moving to NC.

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T0mShane

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7 hours ago, GaryM said:

The experience I had, I was very scared. I wasn’t familiar with the whole city, and it was a lot going on. You see a lot of people that look scary. I’m not a part of that, I don’t like that. So I mean, I had a bad experience, you could say, going up there for the first time. But I feel like if I just go there more, and I just get familiar with it, I could have a great time.”

Well it’s a good thing Denzel wasn’t drafted by a team in a major metropolitan area, then

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BUM-KNEE

BUM-KNEE

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19 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

It’s like if you took Maine, Kentucky, and the set of Escape From New York and smashed them together over a flood plain

Exactly.

Mims should be fine as long as he doesnt get tangled up with a mamma moose protecting her calf. (His speed should help him out though)

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Greensleeves

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8 hours ago, David Harris said:

Luckily for Mims these Jets never need to sniff the city.  Florham Park is around some of the nicest suburbs in Jersey. Really enjoyed my years in that neck of the woods

Exactly. It's like Gary Myers thinks the Jets actually built that stadium on the West Side. Florham Park is nothing like NYC.

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BUM-KNEE

BUM-KNEE

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19 minutes ago, GKnight83 said:

The Northwest of New Jersey is similar to the Southeast of Maine.  There is no Homesteading in NJ though  :)

Ahhh. Yeah SE Maine is all pillheads now on the coast... Kinda depressing

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bitonti

bitonti

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1 hour ago, Vader said:

Also Throw in there hamptons, NY

 

the Hamptons (and Maine) benefits from fresh air that NW NJ only dreams about 

can you see the stars in NJ? That's the real test. Light pollution. 

NJ is surprisingly good at points it's also a festering crap pile in points. There's no part of Maine that looks like the Vince Lombardi Rest stop 

and by the way I live in Philly it's similar there are scary parts but not any more scary than Camden, Trenton, Newark and parts of AC. There are also really nice green areas where Randolph and Mortimer live (Merion Golf Club)

 

Mims probably ran into a bad santa.

 

 drunk trading places GIF

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Vader

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2 hours ago, bitonti said:

the Hamptons (and Maine) benefits from fresh air that NW NJ only dreams about 

can you see the stars in NJ? That's the real test. Light pollution. 

NJ is surprisingly good at points it's also a festering crap pile in points. There's no part of Maine that looks like the Vince Lombardi Rest stop 

and by the way I live in Philly it's similar there are scary parts but not any more scary than Camden, Trenton, Newark and parts of AC. There are also really nice green areas where Randolph and Mortimer live (Merion Golf Club)

 

Mims probably ran into a bad santa.

 

 drunk trading places GIF

Or do as Wentz and Mcnabb and all the others and live in NJ... Florham Park isn’t Elizabeth tho... there’s quite a bit of nature/forest going on 

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GaryM

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16 hours ago, Gastineau Lives said:

Whatever happened to posting the link to the article?

Here you go buddy, enjoy! Nothing better to complain about? The article is what I posted,,the same as the link.

https://email.fansided.com/c/eJx1T0GOhCAQfA3eMNAgiwcPmhk_sA_YMNIqE0EDeJh9_cIDNulUJ1WV6mo7GKn0l2jcAAwYU0xwwTjIlrfdBAr6ScrnLPrnOBLJVhOSs2jb5fTNPvSo7QsBtVottwtfeceYWHsr5ItrgOYY9pyvRMRIYC6Td3xjviKmVCMKU6-WxVQFKBA-tFgSFTTvLmyJWgy_eFDvfKohYr6z_1mMv4zbAhGP2YTv2onA9DDu-BBQ1ZHOOy74v-7RutsXHX1hmzhsHmPkutPlT3Metd8fQbVX2w

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Big_Slick

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16 hours ago, BUM-KNEE said:

Meh, I've heard NJ looks just like Maine.

I lived in NJ (Union Beach) for a few years and mostly remember exit 13 - Elisabeth on I-95 - while I  was commuting to work in mid-town NY City. The smell woke me up every morning. I haven't regretted leaving NYC not even one time.

If I could work and/or live in that part of NJ -w/o- commuting to NYC - I'd have a different opinion.

Eight blocks from the beach and close enough to horse trails and hunting is a major draw. Too bad things changed - so I moved to sunny Fla.

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Gastineau Lives

Gastineau Lives

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6 hours ago, GaryM said:

Here you go buddy, enjoy! Nothing better to complain about? The article is what I posted,,the same as the link.

https://email.fansided.com/c/eJx1T0GOhCAQfA3eMNAgiwcPmhk_sA_YMNIqE0EDeJh9_cIDNulUJ1WV6mo7GKn0l2jcAAwYU0xwwTjIlrfdBAr6ScrnLPrnOBLJVhOSs2jb5fTNPvSo7QsBtVottwtfeceYWHsr5ItrgOYY9pyvRMRIYC6Td3xjviKmVCMKU6-WxVQFKBA-tFgSFTTvLmyJWgy_eFDvfKohYr6z_1mMv4zbAhGP2YTv2onA9DDu-BBQ1ZHOOy74v-7RutsXHX1hmzhsHmPkutPlT3Metd8fQbVX2w

Oh, I see. You think I just made that up. You know we had a forum before you arrived, right?

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BUM-KNEE

BUM-KNEE

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4 hours ago, Big_Slick said:

I lived in NJ (Union Beach) for a few years and mostly remember exit 13 - Elisabeth on I-95 - while I  was commuting to work in mid-town NY City. The smell woke me up every morning. I haven't regretted leaving NYC not even one time.

If I could work and/or live in that part of NJ -w/o- commuting to NYC - I'd have a different opinion.

Eight blocks from the beach and close enough to horse trails and hunting is a major draw. Too bad things changed - so I moved to sunny Fla.

I don't think I've been to NJ, but I've been through NY a few times. Upstate looks quite nice.

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Butterfield

Butterfield

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On 6/4/2020 at 1:16 AM, David Harris said:

Luckily for Mims these Jets never need to sniff the city.  Florham Park is around some of the nicest suburbs in Jersey. Really enjoyed my years in that neck of the woods

Even that area is going to seem extremely populated.  The county the guy comes from has 12,000 people.  It is a totally different lifestyle.  

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32EBoozer

32EBoozer

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1 hour ago, Butterfield said:

Even that area is going to seem extremely populated.  The county the guy comes from has 12,000 people.  It is a totally different lifestyle.  

Agreed...... the selection of a mature and stable roommate will be key for this kid. Maybe Clark or Hall would be or even Perrine?

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Bugg

Bugg

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Read the article expecting there would be some amazing fact about Denzel Mims. He juggles chainsaws, caught an 800 sea bass,is a licensed Space Shuttle Pilot, ...no.  And really he is about what you might expect from a college wideout. Philadelphia scares him?

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GreenReaper

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As pointed out in this article...and I've brought this up in other Mims postings...he was being groomed to be the #1 QB in high school.  But he was just too explosive a receiver to keep him there.  Also...when you're grooming someone worthy for consideration at QB position...you would expect that player would have a good understanding of route concepts and timing issues between QB and receiver. 

Now add to that...the football culture and genes within his extended family tree.  IMO it's just overblown concerning his limited route abilities.  He'll take to the coaching of Hines Ward and others, and refine his route running.  It shouldn't be a problem for someone with his background.  

Mims is a smart and seriously dedicated football player.  With his background football culture...and natural athletic gifts...I expect him to have a  big impact this year.   He's also pissed...at all those teams that passed on him.  That was the first thing he said when on the phone with JD.  

My man Mims...is a complete football player...who's gonna surprise this year.  This analyst sees it that way too...

Download video

 

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