Blake Sims
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Blake Sims
| image =
| current_team = Mt. Bethel Christian Academy (GA)
| number =
| position = Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|4}}
| birth_place = Gainesville, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 218
| high_school = Gainesville
| college = Alabama (2010–2014)
| undraftedyear = 2015
| pastteams =
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2015}})*
- Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2015}})
- Wollongong Devils (2016)
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2016}})*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})*
- Birmingham Iron ({{AAF Year|2019}})
- Spokane Shock ({{IFL Year|2021}})
- Frisco Fighters ({{IFL Year|2022}})
| pastcoaching =
- Mt. Bethel Christian Academy (GA) (2023–present)
Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
| status =
| highlights =
- 2× BCS national champion (2012, 2013)
- Second-team All-SEC (2014)
| pfr = SimsBl01
| cfl-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20151115004107/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/8157
}}
Blake Sims (born January 4, 1991) is an American high school football coach and former player. He is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, a position he has held since 2023. He played college football at Alabama and was the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback in 2014.
Early life
Sims attended Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia, where he played football and ran track his junior and senior seasons.{{Cite web |last=Zopf |first=Jonathan |date=December 31, 2010 |title=Home for the Holidays: Blake Sims |url=https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/sports/national-sports/staff-sports-picks/home-for-the-holidays-blake-sims/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Gainesville Times}} He attended and played for Cass High School his freshman and sophomore years, starting as a sophomore.{{Cite web |last=Schlabach |first=Mark |date=2014-09-30 |title=How Blake Sims waited, won Alabama's QB job |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11619467/blake-sims-had-many-guiding-hands-road-becoming-alabama-crimson-tide-quarterback |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} At Gainesville, 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).{{Cite web |title=Flowery Branch, West Hall, Johnson, Gainesville, Chestatee 2009 - Results (Raw) |url=https://ga.milesplit.com/meets/49556-flowery-branch-west-hall-johnson-gainesville-chestatee-2009/results/87731/raw |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=MileSplit GA |language=en}} He won the 100 meters at the 2010 Battle at The Branch Invitational, at 10.84.{{Cite web |title=Battle at The Branch Invitational 2010 - Boys (Raw) |url=https://ga.milesplit.com/meets/62117-battle-at-the-branch-invitational-2010/results/116915/raw |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=MileSplit GA |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Blake Sims, 2010 Athlete, Alabama |url=https://rivals.com/content/athletes/blake-sims-15714?view=pv |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Rivals.com |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Blake Sims, 2010 Athlete, Alabama |url=https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/blake-sims-15714?view=pv |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Rivals.com |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Gribble |first=Andrew |date=2014-08-30 |title=Nick Saban names Blake Sims starter for Alabama's season opener |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2014/08/nick_saban_names_blake_sims_st.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AL.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2014 |title=Blake Sims plays wire-to-wire as No. 2 Alabama beats West Virginia |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400547835 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Scarbinksy |first=Kevin |date=2014-09-21 |title=Nobody wanted Lane Kiffin, nobody respected Blake Sims and nobody stops them now |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2014/09/nobody_wanted_lane_kiffin_nobo.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AL.com |language=en}} On December 6, 2014, Sims broke the Alabama single season passing yards record, which was previously held by A. J. McCarron.{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Jason |date=2014-12-06 |title=Blake Sims sets Alabama single-season passing record |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/blake-sims-sets-alabama-single-season-passing-record/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Saturday Down South |language=en-US}} In 14 starts, he passed for 3,487 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.{{Cite web |title=Blake Sims 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/blake-sims-2/gamelog/2014 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He led the SEC in passing touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=2014 Southeastern Conference Leaders |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/sec/2014-leaders.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He lost in the Sugar Bowl game in the semifinals to Ohio State, which later won the National Championship.{{Cite web |title=Sugar Bowl - Ohio State vs Alabama Box Score, January 1, 2015 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2015-01-01-alabama.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}
=College statistics=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Alabama Crimson Tide football}}"| Alabama Crimson Tide | |||||||||||||||
| 2011
| 5 || 0 || 0–0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 22 || 107 || 4.9 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2012
| 10 || 0 || 0–0 || 5 || 10 || 50.0 || 77 || 7.7 || 0 || 0 || 114.7 || 30 || 187 || 6.2 || 2 | |||||||||||||||
| 2013
| 13 || 0 || 0–0 || 18 || 29 || 62.1 || 167 || 5.8 || 2 || 0 || 133.2 || 15 || 61 || 4.1 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2014
| 14 || 14 || 12–2 || 252 || 391 || 64.4 || 3,487 || 8.9 || 28 || 10 || 157.9 || 78 || 350 || 4.5 || 7 | |||||||||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/blake-sims-2.html Career] | 42 | 14 | 12–2 | 275 | 430 | 64.0 | 3,731 | 87 | 30 | 10 | 88.8 | 145 | 705 | 4.9 | 9 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11+1/2
| weight = 218
| dash = 4.57
| ten split = 1.67
| twenty split = 2.70
| shuttle =
| cone drill = 7.15
| vertical = 30+1/2
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 7
| bench =
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 31+1/2
| hand span = 9
| note = 3-cone from Alabama Pro Day, all others from NFL Combine{{cite web | url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=112331&draftyear=2015&genpos=QB | title=Blake Sims | publisher=nfldraftscout.com | access-date=September 2, 2016}}
}}
Sims was not drafted 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.{{Cite web |last=Zenitz |first=Matt |date=2015-05-09 |title=Blake Sims receiving praise during tryout with Packers |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2015/05/blake_sims_receiving_praise_du.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AL.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Zenitz |first=Matt |date=2015-05-18 |title=Redskins passing on Blake Sims following tryout |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2015/05/redskins_passing_on_blake_sims.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AL.com |language=en}} He was not offered a contract by either team.
= Toronto Argonauts =
Sims was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on May 28, 2015{{Cite web |date=2015-05-28 |title=Argos sign former Crimson Tide QB Sims |url=https://www.tsn.ca/argos-sign-former-crimson-tide-qb-sims-1.293756 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=TSN.ca |language=en}} and released June 7, 2015.{{Cite web |date=2015-06-07 |title=Argos release ex-Alabama QB Sims |url=https://www.tsn.ca/argos-release-ex-alabama-qb-sims-1.302151 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=TSN.ca |language=en}}
= Saskatchewan Roughriders =
Sims was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL on July 29, 2015.{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2015 |title=Roughriders sign former Alabama QB Blake Sims |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/roughriders-sign-former-alabama-qb-blake-sims |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Saskatoon StarPhoenix}} He was cut September 15, 2015, having been on the active roster for one game. Roughriders traded quarterback Kevin Glenn to the Montreal Alouettes October 14, 2015, and Sims was re-signed to replace Glenn. He did not appear in any games for the Roughriders and was released on December 15, 2015.{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=2015-12-16 |title=Blake Sims released in Roughriders' roster reduction |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2015/12/blake_sims_released_in_massive.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AL.com |language=en}}
= Wollongong Devils =
In July 2016, Sims left North America for Australia to continue his professional football career with the Wollongong Devils of the National Gridiron League.{{Cite web |url=https://aussiefaithful.com/blake-sims-signs-wollongong-devils/ |title=2015 NFL Draft prospect Blake Sims signs with Wollongong Devils |access-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818115015/https://aussiefaithful.com/blake-sims-signs-wollongong-devils/ |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
= Atlanta Falcons =
On September 13, 2016, Sims was signed to the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Zenitz |first=Matt |date=2016-09-13 |title=Former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims joins NFL team |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2016/09/former_alabama_quarterback_bla.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AL.com |language=en}} He was released on September 23.{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=2016-09-24 |title=Atlanta Falcons release Blake Sims |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2016/09/atlanta_falcons_release_blake.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AL.com |language=en}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On December 28, 2016, Sims was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Johnson Promoted as Sims Hits IR|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Johnson-Promoted-as-Sims-Hits-IR/f1b5c519-8ad5-4351-96f1-c7f54317c929|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=December 28, 2016|access-date=December 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229102435/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Johnson-Promoted-as-Sims-Hits-IR/f1b5c519-8ad5-4351-96f1-c7f54317c929|archive-date=December 29, 2016|url-status=dead}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on January 2, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Scott |date=January 2, 2017 |title=Bucs Re-Sign Six from Practice Squad |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-re-sign-six-from-practice-squad-18380177 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Buccaneers.com}} He was waived on August 28, 2017.{{cite web|title=Buccaneers Sign DEs Abdesmad, Ekpe|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Sign-DEs-Abdesmad-Ekpe/dd6fa6c7-4129-4a5a-b5dc-9f7d3e717c37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102201047/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Sign-DEs-Abdesmad-Ekpe/dd6fa6c7-4129-4a5a-b5dc-9f7d3e717c37|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2018|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=August 28, 2017}}
=Birmingham Iron=
After his release by the Buccaneers, Sims was assigned to the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football. In the league's quarterback draft on November 27, he was retained by the Iron with their second-round selection.{{cite web|last=Wilson|first=Ryan|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/alliance-of-american-football-qb-draft-aaron-murray-christian-hackenberg-highlight-qbs-taken/|title=Alliance of American Football QB Draft: Aaron Murray, Christian Hackenberg highlight QBs taken|publisher=CBSSports.com|date=November 27, 2018|access-date=November 27, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Inabinett|first=Mark|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2018/11/birmingham-iron-picks-luis-perez-blake-sims-in-aaf-quarterback-draft.html|title=Birmingham Iron picks Luis Perez, Blake Sims in AAF quarterback draft|newspaper=The Birmingham News|date=November 27, 2018|access-date=November 27, 2018}} He was placed on injured reserve on February 27, 2019, and waived from injured reserve on April 1, 2019.{{cite web | last=Inabinett | first=Mark | title=Blake Sims: ‘I got tears in my eyes’ | website=AL.com| date=2021-07-11 | url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/07/blake-sims-i-got-tears-in-my-eyes.html | access-date=2025-01-08}}
=Frisco Fighters=
On February 27, 2022, Sims signed with the Frisco Fighters of the Indoor Football League.{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://goifl.com/transactions.aspx |website=goifl.com |date=February 27, 2022 |access-date=June 6, 2022}} On August 25, 2022, Sims retired from professional football.{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://goifl.com/transactions.aspx |website=goifl.com |date=August 25, 2022 |access-date=September 5, 2022}}
Coaching career
On March 17, 2023, Sims announced he became the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Mt. Bethel Christian Academy.{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2023 |title=Blake Sims named offensive coordinator at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy |url=https://tdalabamamag.com/2023/03/17/blake-sims-named-offensive-coordinator-at-mt-bethel-christian-academy/ |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=TDA}}{{Cite web |last=Flanagan |first=Ben |date=June 26, 2023 |title=Where is Blake Sims, the former record-setting Alabama quarterback? |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2023/06/where-is-blake-sims-the-former-record-setting-alabama-quarterback.html |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=AL.com}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140909232900/http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/blake_sims_713439.html Alabama Crimson Tide bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150529090334/http://www.argonauts.ca/roster/show/id/8157 Toronto Argonauts bio]
{{2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{2012 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sims, Blake}}
Category:Players of American football from Gainesville, Georgia
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:American football running backs
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Birmingham Iron players
Category:Canadian football quarterbacks
Category:Frisco Fighters players
Category:High school football coaches in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Category:Toronto Argonauts players
Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state)