Amarius Mims, highest rated 2021 Georgia football recruit, enters the transfer portal

Georgia offensive lineman Amarius Mims, a five-star recruit who had an offer from Clemson, has entered the transfer portal.

Georgia offensive lineman Amarius Mims, a five-star recruit who had an offer from Clemson, has entered the transfer portal.

Offensive lineman Amarius Mims, the top-rated recruit in Georgia football’s 2021 signing class, has put his name in the transfer portal, a source confirmed.

Mims was a prized five-star recruit from Bleckley County High in Cochran who was the nation’s No. 8 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite, but after seeing time as a backup last season had yet to climb into the starting unit.

The news was first reported Sunday by Matt Zenitz of On3.com. Seldom-used interior offensive lineman Clay Webb from Alabama also put his name in the portal. He is also a former five-star recruit.

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The 6-foot-7, 330-pound Mims was behind Warren McClendon, a two-year starter at right tackle.

Mims committed to Georgia and offensive line coach Matt Luke on Oct. 14, 2020.

Luke left the coaching staff prior to spring practice and former Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels was hired to replace him from North Carolina.

Mims played eight games as a reserve last season as a true freshman.

“Great talent, young guy,” starting center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger said earlier this spring. “He has some game experience. I’m looking forward to him taking the next step. I think he’s going to be fine, honestly. Watching how he practices and how he works, it’s a thing of beauty. I’m looking forward to how he takes the next step because he’s a generational talent in my opinion.”

Just last Tuesday, coach Kirby Smart brought up Mims when talking about trying to develop young, talented players.

“We look at the offensive line, and I’m like, ‘Man! Look how far Amarius Mims has come,'” Smart said. “‘Man! Look how far this guy’s grown and gotten better, Devin Willock.’ I want to see the players improve and not just jell, improve your fundamentals and get better so our team can be better. We have some guys that are getting better. I’m excited about that. They’re probably not as good as you guys think they are. They might not be as good as they think they are, but they’re getting better.”

Under an SEC rule passed last June that allowed immediate eligibility for intraconference transfers, Mims would have had to declare his intent to transfer by Feb. 1 iorder to be able to play at another conference school this season. He could pursue a waiver.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football offensive lineman Amarius Mims enters transfers portal