Blake Sims

Blake Sims
Free agent
Position: Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1992-01-03) January 3, 1992
Place of birth: Gainesville, Georgia
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Gainesville (GA)
College: Alabama
Undrafted: 2015
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Blake Sims (born January 3, 1992) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Alabama and was the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback in 2014.

Early years

Sims attended Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia, where he played football and ran track. He played quarterback for head coach Bruce Miller, leading Gainesville to a 14–1 record and a state runner-up finish. He threw for 2,785 yards as a junior in 2008 while rushing for 822 yards and 15 scores. As a senior, he threw for 2,288 yards with 28 touchdowns, and rushed for 863 yards and 13 touchdowns. He twice earned AAA All-State honors by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Associated Press (AP) in 2009.

In track & field, Sims was one of the state's top sprinters. At the 2009 Gainesville Tri Meet vs Buford/Clarke Central, he won the long jump event, recording a jump of 6.58 meters. At the '2009 "Flowery Branch, West Hall, Johnson, Gainesville, Chestatee Meet", he earned first-place finishes in both the 100 meters (10.85 s) and 200 meters (21.84 s).[1] He won the 100 meters at the 2010 Battle at The Branch Invitational, at 10.84.[2] He had a personal-best time of 10.69 seconds in the 100 meters.

Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Sims was ranked as the No. 33 athlete in the nation. He was also rated eighth in the AJC's 2010 Top 50 prospects in Georgia, No. 43 player by SuperPrep. He chose Alabama over scholarship offers from Tennessee, Georgia, FSU and Michigan.[3]

College career

After spending 2010 to 2013 as a running back and backup quarterback, Sims started his first career game during the opener of his senior season in 2014 after beating Jake Coker for the job.[4][5] On September 20, 2014, he threw for 445 yards against Florida, which was the second most in school history behind Scott Hunter's 484 in 1969.[6] On December 6, 2014 Sims broke the Alabama single season passing yards record which was held by AJ McCarron.[7] In 14 starts, he passed for 3,487 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He lost in the semifinals to Ohio State, which later won the championship.

Passing statistics
Season GP–GS Comp–Att Pct. Yards TD INT Long Avg/G
2012 10–0 5–10 50.0 77 0 0 35 9.6
2013 13–0 18–29 62.1 167 2 0 26 20.9
2014 14–14 252–391 64.4 3,487 28 10 87 249.1
Rushing statistics:
Season GP–GS Att Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G
2011 5–0 22 107 4.9 0 45 21.40
2012 10–0 30 187 6.2 2 36 18.70
2013 13–0 15 61 4.1 0 11 7.63
2014 14–14 78 350 4.5 7 43 25.0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
5 ft 11 in 218 lb 4.57 s 1.67 s 2.70 s 7.15 s 30 1⁄2 in 9 ft 7 in
3-cone from Alabama Pro Day, all others from NFL Combine[8]

Sims was not selected in the 2015 NFL Draft, thus becoming a free agent. He was offered an opportunity to try out with the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins (as a running back).[9][10] He was not offered a contract by either team.

Toronto Argonauts

Sims was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on May 28, 2015[11] and released June 7, 2015.[12]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Sims was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League on July 29, 2015. He was cut September 15, 2015. He was on the active roster for one game due to injuries. Roughriders traded quarterback Kevin Glenn to the Montreal Alouettes Oct 14, 2015. Sims was resigned to replace Glenn on October 22, 2015. Saskatchewan Roughriders added Sims their roster as #3 quarterback. Sims was on Riders roster, but never got to play for Saskatchewan. He was released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on December 15, 2015.

Wollongong Devils

In July 2016 Sims left North America for Australia to continue his professional football career with the Wollongong Devils of the upstart National Gridiron League.[13]

Atlanta Falcons

On September 13, 2016, Sims was signed to the Falcons' practice squad.[14] He was released on September 23.

Personal life

During his junior year of high school, Sims' daughter, Kyla, was born. He married Rafaela Souza, Kyla's mother, in 2009. In 2013, after four years of marriage, Blake and Rafaela divorced when the strain of a long-distance relationship became too much (she was living in Gainesville while he was attending Alabama). While Blake still has a good relationship with them, she and Kyla are currently residing in Gainesville.

References

External links

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