This is part two of a 20-day series. Over the next 20 days, Dr. SEC will publish a scouting report on 20 different recruits who recently signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide
Despite losing their final two games of the season, the Alabama Crimson Tide have more talent on campus than any other team in college football. Moreover, with the addition of Cameron Sims, the rich just got richer.
Despite having stud wide receivers like Amari Cooper and DeAndrew White, don’t be surprised if Sims is able to get playing time as a true freshman. Sims is a versatile and smooth player with big-play ability regardless of where he lines up. The 6-foot-4, 199-pound receiver is a game-ready talent with the size to make an impact immediately.
When watching film of Sims, he has very good game speed and consistently runs by and away from defenders. He has good initial quickness off the line and excellent change-of-direction skills for such a tall receiver.
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He adjusts his body well against smaller defensive backs and is a mismatch in the red zone. In addition to his tall frame, he does a nice job at gaining position and timing jumps. He can pluck the ball at the high point and on the move with the focus and strength to haul in passes thrown outside of his frame.
Sims shows excellent balance and body control. He keeps his feet moving and gains extra yards after contact. Sims is a big play receiver after the catch and a playmaker with the ball in his hands. As a junior, he averaged a whopping 24.3 yards per catch.
Sims wasn’t asked to run many complicated routes in high school, but Sims shows patience and knows when to use his speed and when to throttle.
I expect Sims to play a limited role this season, but make big plays when he is on the field. However, he will become a consistent part of the offensive game plan in 2015 with the Tide losing several playmakers after next season.
Sims is destined to end up like former Alabama running back Eddie Lacy, who was overlooked in his home state by LSU, only to become a star at Alabama. The Bayou Bengals did finish with a very good 2014 recruiting class, but they made a mistake by not offering Sims.
He was also a key contributor in recruiting three other players from the state of Louisiana. In other words, Sims has already become an important contributor the Crimson Tide program. However, the best is yet to come.
Dr. SEC has a weekly radio program, The Waiting Room with Dr. SEC, that broadcast on 14 stations across five states and also has a daily radio program that airs on Bama Sports Radio. His daily writings are syndicated to newspapers and magazines. Visit his website at www.drsec.org and follow him on twitter at twitter.com/thedrsec
