Blake Sims de-commits to Bama, reopens recruitment
Gainesville quarterback Blake Sims shockingly backed out on his commitment to Alabama the day after it won the national championship. (AJC photo)
Imagine, if you can, Blake Sims calling Alabama coach Nick Saban the day after the Crimson Tide wins the national championship to inform Saban that he is de-committing.
That’s what the Gainesville quarterback and long-time Bama commitment did on Friday. He now says he has completely re-opened his recruitment and is considering Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, West Virgina and Michigan as well as Alabama.
“I love Coach Saban and all the Alabama people, but it just didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” Sims told AJC high schools reporter Michael Carvell Friday night. “I had to tell [Saban] first, before the word got out. It was a tough conversation, but I think he understood where I coming from. He respected that I called to tell him myself, rather than have to hear it from other people.”
For this you can thank the Tennessee Volunteers. Head coach Lane Kiffin and assistant Ed Orgeron had an in-home visit with Sims on Wednesday and convinced him he should play on the offensive side of the ball in college and not on defense. Sims had concerns that Alabama wanted him to play cornerback and he was not enamored with the Tide’s offense anyway.
“I’ve been watching their games all year, and I feel l like their offense doesn’t fit me,” said Sims, who’s rated the state’s top quarterback by the AJC and No. 9 overall prospect overall. “I want to help out a team as a playmaker . . . catch balls, return punts, and return kickoffs. I feel like there are better places to do those things than Alabama.”
Sims canceled his official visit to Alabama on Jan. 15, replacing it with a recruiting trip to Tennessee. He’s also expected to set up a visit with the Bulldogs.
During the season, Georgia head coach Mark Richt made a personal push for Sims, who is a lifelong fan and has attended the Bulldogs’ camps every year since the ninth grade. At the time Richt told Sims he’d be given a shot to play quarterback but Sims said he has not heard from the Bulldogs in a while.
Sims is bracing for a backlash from Alabama fans.
“I just hope they understand I have to do what’s best for me and my family,” he said. “Alabama is a great school and I wish them the best.”
After dispensing Friday’s news, Sims’ family said Blake will have no further media contact until he has made a final decision and is directing all inquiries to Gainesville assistant coach Todd Wofford. Here’s a statement I received from Sims via email:
I would like to open this statement with thanks to God for blessing me with the gifts that have given me the opportunity to continue my football career at the next level. I would also like to thank my teammates, coaches and fans and especially my family for the tremendous support during our run to the State Championship.
Since that championship game I have had a lot of time to think about my future as a person and as a football player. As many of you know, last spring I verbally committed to play football for Coach Nick Saban and the University of Alabama. Coach Saban and his staff are some of the finest people I have ever met. [They] have treated me very well throughout the entire process and I believe Alabama is a great place.
Having prayed about my future and talking with my coaches and family, I realize that my heart and desire are on the offensive side of the football. Most of you know me as a quarterback but I feel at the next level I will best suited as a receiver/playmaker. Knowing that is where I want to play, I am announcing today that I am decommitting from Alabama so that I may explore all the opportunities that have been presented to me.
This is a painful decision for me because Alabama is still tops in my heart and Coach Saban is amazing. I just feel it would be the right thing to do for Alabama and myself to pursue all my choices with no obligations. Next fall when I hit the field I want to have a peace in my heart knowing that I checked out every place I could and made the best decision for me and my family.
I am including a list of some of the schools and I will be visiting or talking to over the next 30 days. Thank You and God bless!
Blake Sims
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421 comments Add your comment
Recruiting guru
January 9th, 2010
9:37 pm
In a year or 2 the vol recruiting classes and talent will still lag Florida, Bama, LSU, Georgia. They will not be making up any ground in recruiting. They will still have the talent gap between them and everyone else. Just a fact according to last year’s recruiting rankings and again this year. Just the facts sir
Gen Neyland
January 9th, 2010
10:15 pm
Whay to go, CLK. You got the know-nothings riled up and may sway another to come to Knoxville. Keep up the good work…
Gen Neyland
January 9th, 2010
10:48 pm
Bama Fan : When Nick’s at the Wal-Mart showing off the Crystal Football, CLK will be knocking on the doors of his commits…BTW, it’s already started.
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOL TEAM
January 9th, 2010
10:57 pm
SIMS CANNOT GO THE UGA ANYMORE SINCE THE QB SPOTS ARE LIKELY FULL.
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOL TEAM
January 9th, 2010
10:58 pm
JUST LIKE ME, LANE KIFFIN IS A CLOWN. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA
Vullenteered
January 10th, 2010
2:05 am
Here at the University of Thuggasee, we can play Blake Simms on both offense AND defense, and if Wee can find which of Saban’s recruits who are naive and/or vulnerable then wee can take them away from Saban to the Orange Paradise where there are no rules in Knocksville and they can do whatever they wanna do..
Recruiting Update 10Jan « Leather Helmet Blog
January 10th, 2010
5:01 am
[...] Blake Sims of Gainesville de-commits from Bama and reopens recruiting (including UGA) [...]
dap01
January 10th, 2010
6:37 am
Blake: Do what you feel is best for you. You are blessed. Prepare for the wrath of Nick Satan and the Bama fans. Notice the history of each. Not too heart warming is it? Also be wary of Kiffin, classy guy.
dap01
January 10th, 2010
6:40 am
Blake: Bama fans also throw bricks through windows of people who reject them. Check their history. They have been better the last couple of years since the state finally received cable last year.
BAMA FAN #2
January 10th, 2010
7:27 am
dapo1 you are a freaking capital A- HOLE!!
Great to be a Fla. Gator
January 10th, 2010
8:33 am
Yeah Vol Nation that best FULLBACK to ever play college football threw for a Sugar Bowl record 486 yards against Cincy (that was the 3rd ranked Cincy Bearcats). One heck of a FULLBACK, don’t you think? You QB threw about 486 interceptions this year.
Gator in the Hootch
January 10th, 2010
8:54 am
Read and weep, Dawg fans…..recruiting story from ESPN about how the Gator class is the best recruiting class ever and it is only going to get better:
But the Gators might not be done yet. Notre Dame QB commitment Andrew Hendrix (Cincinnati/Moeller) is in Gainesville being wooed by the Gators. Florida is the lone school other than Notre Dame the strong-armed signal-caller is considering. The Gators are still in the running for the nation’s top prospect, Jackson Jeffcoat (Plano, Texas/West), who will visit Jan. 15 along with the No. 2 prospect and top linebacker Jordan Hicks (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West). Jeffcoat is considering Florida, USC, Arizona State, Houston, Texas and Oklahoma, while Hicks is nearing a decision with Florida holding the edge over Texas and Ohio State. All three schools made in-home visits to Hicks this week, with Texas getting the last word on Saturday. The Gators are also in the running for top offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson (Minneapolis/Cretin-Derham) and four-star OT Matt James (Cincinnati/St. Xavier), as well as a handful of four-star receiving prospects including Christian Green (Tampa, Fla./Catholic), Ivan McCartney (Miramar, Fla./Miramar) and Kadron Boone (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic). In other words, believe it or not, this class could still get even better.
ckgator
January 10th, 2010
9:14 am
VolsRule is living in a fantasy land.
Who says that? –Everyone who had read his posts.
ckgator
January 10th, 2010
9:30 am
VolNation21 – remember the Sesame Street song… “One of these things is not like the other… can you tell me which before my song is done???”
…Spurrier / Saban / Miles / Meyer / Richt / KIFFIN… (hint: the one with no rings)
…Brooks / Richt / Johnson / Mullen / Chizik / KIFFIN… (hint: the one with no significant SEC or bowl victories, who has no idea how to conduct himself amidst his peers, how to properly shake hands, win / lose with class, etc.)
Vols – He is out of his league and bad for the sport. Unless you agree that the head coaching job at UT is an entry-level position, you should flush this turd immediately.
“Words speak louder than actions.”
-Lane Kiffin
Karl Childers
January 10th, 2010
9:43 am
Chip it’s proper to use “enamored of” not “enamored with.” Jeff Schultz uses it correctly in his article about Paul Johnson.
Jailhouse Rock vs Rocky Top
January 10th, 2010
10:13 am
JAILHOUSE ROCK will be the new fight song for UT, instead of ROCKY TOP. With all the thug arrest there in the last two or three weeks, that tune will become the NEW standard for UT’s grads. I know tons of them and they are not happy with the recent revelations concerning thugs up there. Blame Kiffen has already been quietly reprimanded by them, as well as the B ball coach. The clokc is ticking up there. Recruits …………beware.
If you are a thug however, you will probably resent this blog but the truth always hurts, especially if you are an OBAMARON.
VolNation21
January 10th, 2010
10:13 am
Congrats on throwing for so many yards against an over rated Big East team that never should have been ranked in the top ten in the first place. Good luck keeping Urbie on the sidelines all season with his broken heart. Let’s see Brantly run the ball in that offense the gators run. No doubt you picked up a top recruiting class as did bama. Just don’t be surprised when you play the VOLS from here on out, you should thank Fulmer for leaving the cupboards bare when he left. Well guess what, there are bare no longer. Won’t be long til it’s VOLS vs Bama for SEC titles. Snap back to reality GAYTURDS,
jojatek
January 10th, 2010
10:29 am
Let’s see, now… Sims is a good student… a solid citizen… a talented QB, but doesn’t quite have all of the tools to play QB at a big-time SEC “football factory”. Sounds like an opportunity for CPJ to go talk some sense into this kid…
Gridiron Gator
January 10th, 2010
10:43 am
VolNation21…In a year or two you’re gonna wish you had Phil Fulmer back…at least the man had some integrity! Next year is gonna be an eye opener for you kool-aide drinkers when your team goes 6-6 or worse. And I’m only saying 6-6 because I took a look at some of the teams on your non conference schedule. The third year will be the biggie, unfortunately you will have a much more challenging schedule with trips to Bama and Florida. By that time, most “reasonable” Tenn boosters and fans will be wanting to run the “Lane Train” out of town on rails. At least he will probably leave the next coach with decent players…
Harold Bare
January 10th, 2010
11:12 am
Dawgs don,t get your hopes up. It is Kiffin who talked Mr. Sims out of his committment to Alabama. It will be Kiffin who signs him. Blake Sims will be a Vol. Go Vols.
Harold Bare
Harold Bare
January 10th, 2010
11:43 am
Bama fan.
Your comments remove all doubt that you are an idiot. Comment after comment confirms it. Its clear that Kiffin and O. did not promise Mr. Sims a shot at qb. They wanted him to play offense, but not qb.
By the way you must really respect and look up to Fulmer. He handled Bama easily over the years.
I am a Kiffin fan not a Fulmer fan. Kiffin will lead the Vols back to the top of the SEC. It may not be next year, but look out for Tennessee in the next two to three years.
Harold Bare
VolNation21
January 10th, 2010
11:46 am
Thanks for the reminder, I already mentioned that the upcoming year we will end up with close to the same record. New QB, new OL, new RB, lost the BEST PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY, ERIC BERRY, to the NFL. New lb’s. You are right about the trips to the swamp and bama. But we almost beat the natl champs and kept it pretty close in the swamp. We will be ready fro those trips in two years. Still, all in all, I am glad Bama won the title, Florida two out of three, and LSU a few years ago. It just further cements the SEC as by far and away the best conference in football. Just shows the winner of the SEC should be handed the natl championship and tell all others they are playing for second place. The VOLS will be playing in the SEC champ in next few, under five, years. So we will see!!
ckgator
January 10th, 2010
11:49 am
Gridiron Gator- well said. I can’t believe so many Vol fans are for Kiffin. I guess I can empathize…. I was pro-Zook year one myself.
VolNation21 – I’m sure you are a nice feller, but your loyalty blinds you. The Lane Train will be completely derailed by the end of year 3. And all you’ll have to show for it is 3 wasted years the program will never have back.
I will be in Knoxville once again for the game in Sept. And as usual, I will leave celebrating.
Go Gators!
Bama fan
January 10th, 2010
12:16 pm
Vol fans,
Looking at the haul that Florida just brought in and can’t understand why for the life of me you guys think you will ever win your division to even get to the seccg. You will never beat Florida with the idiot in charge. And I hear all this smack talk about your recruiting. Fla is no. 1 easily this year, we are no. 4 and UT is back in 7th and 11th. There still will be a talent gap between UT and everyone else. And on top of that you have a bozo for a coach. Lane Kiffin is all talk no action. He’s just talking a big game to buy time to get paid for 3-4 years. He lasts through this year possibly but is definitely fired after 2011. Sorry but the writing is on the wall and its obvious to everyone except UT fans that this Lame idiot train can only go one way. Downhill.
Gator in the Hootch
January 10th, 2010
12:21 pm
VolNation…you are one hopeful daydreamer…you should be a Dawg fan.
Gator in the Hootch
January 10th, 2010
12:24 pm
Bama fan…I guess every other coach in the SEC, other than Lou Satan, is an idiot. Well, if Urban is an idiot, then I want to be one as well. He is a mighty smart idiot.
Bama fan
January 10th, 2010
12:59 pm
Gator in the hooch,
Re read my post. I didn’t call Urban an idiot. You don’t win 2 bcs titles by being an idiot. I was referring to Kiffin who is the only coach in the sec I would dare call an idiot.
Bama fan
January 10th, 2010
1:01 pm
gator in hooch,
I can see how you thought I might have been referring to Urban but the whole post is referring to Kiffin, not Meyer.
You're Full of It!
January 10th, 2010
1:27 pm
It seems that you Alabama fans would have gotten it through your thick heads by now that you don’t have 13 NC’s. 5 of those were bogus at best. You had 7 and now have 8. We all understand that number is far above the rest of the SEC. We get it. However, with a great NC record like that, why do you INSIST on claiming more than you actually have? Is that just part of the Alabama superiority thing? Do you think you are so great that you must even compete with yourself by inflating your record? I think someone in charge at Alabama, Saban or Mal Moore, should make an official announcement that you have 8 NC’s and from this date forward, that is the official number and that the school, alumni and fans should claim the actual number, not a bunch of pretend NC’s. That way, you would at least be honest with yourselves and others. I know that is just a pipe dream, because if it weren’t for inflated numbers and inflated egos, you would not be Alabama. Congrats on the new NC, but at least have the integrity to be honest about the total number.
Mark "Crimson Crier" Ingram
January 10th, 2010
1:59 pm
UGA Curdawgs congratulations on your 30th year(Pearl)anniversity of your last and only National Championship (1980)!!! Seems like just yesterday, LOL!
Katie
January 10th, 2010
2:54 pm
Yeah, Kiffin already disgusted a few recruits by flying in during the national anthem. If the best Kiffin and Tenn could do what the imfamous “Orange Pride” girls i saw pics of, all the other schools are gonna win that war. Hope they are better in the sack , otherwise its a blowout….or not lol. Face it, Florida had Powell all along and if Florida has enough room they will take D. Riley too. Tennessee only gets a bone when Florida doesn’t want ‘em. Tenn is Florida lite.
Kiff’s girl is hott for her age, wasn’t she a Gator Grad? Guess he had to bring in his own candy cuz Tennessee’s wasn’t good enough.
Katie
January 10th, 2010
2:59 pm
Bama finally got relevant this decade, congrats but you still can’t count. The last time i was in Bama i couldn”t see past the women, your mascot, the hogs. If anyone other then a first start freshman plays, you get run over. Texas would have whooped you and everyone knows it. Even Blake Simms
Katie
January 10th, 2010
3:00 pm
Bama finally got relevant this decade, congrats but you still can’t count. The last time i was in Bama i couldn”t see past the women, your mascot, the hogs. If anyone other then a first start freshman plays, you get run over. Texas would have whooped you and everyone knows it. Even Blake Sims
superDawg
January 10th, 2010
3:23 pm
knoxvillian news tenrsee jail to crowded recruiting suspended until futher notice.
I Know
January 10th, 2010
4:30 pm
For further information for everyone, Blake has recommitted to Alabama after clearing up information about his football plans. He is more comfortable now with the plans that Alabama has for him and fully plans on honoring his commitment to sign in February.
Harold Bare
January 10th, 2010
5:10 pm
Bama fan keeps on confirming that he or she is an idiot. By the way Bama fan Kiffin makes over $2,000,000 per year. How much do you make. Now who’s the idiot.
Harold Bare
dogdownsouth
January 10th, 2010
6:24 pm
It’s very simple the Dawgs are losing several defensive backs this year & he’s been told thats where his best chance of playing immediately will be at or at wide receiver. He’s gonna sign with the Dawgs. he watch the QB at Alabama winn a NC & knows he’ll ( Mcelroy will be there 2 more years so he won’t play QB at Alabama
dawgster
January 10th, 2010
6:25 pm
For some of you gator fans keep in mind you can only sign so many, look at your committment list which at last talley was 24…And you think you are going to be able to sign how many more? This is especially for GatorHooch…Again remember who assigning these rankings, I wonder which gators will not have their scholarships renewed with so many recruits to sign…
TampaGator
January 10th, 2010
6:27 pm
Great, great recruiting weekend for the Gators, and they are still in the running for #1 OL – Henderson; #1 LB – Hicks, one of the top DE – Jeffcoat; and some outstanding receiver prospects in Green, McCartney, and Boone. From what I am hearing and reading, the Gators recruiting class will be the best this year and could continue to develop into one of best recruiting classes ever. Not bad for a “quitter” and a “crier” Dawg and Vols fans! The Gators are good enough to win the East and more next year without these kids…and they certainly will be more than good enough for the same for the next 3 to 4 years….and probably for many, many years to come. What a program! Go Gators!
TampaGator
January 10th, 2010
6:32 pm
Dawgster….it depends on how many go pro. We should know that next week. If Dunlap goes, then Jeffcoat may come. Other way if Dunlap stays. I believe the Gators are expecting to sign up to 28, maybe more with if all the jrs looking do go pro. But you are right, the Gators might ask some of the redshirt Jrs. to not come back next year. All schools do that. Bama and Ole Miss way oversigned last year and fine tuned their roster afterwards.
dawgster
January 10th, 2010
6:46 pm
TampaGator, i’m curious where you get all your info on all teams, don’t recall the dawgs ever asking asking a redshirt Jr. to not come back unless they had done something to lose their scholarship, i would think that that would be pretty well known as much info is out there, if indeed we did pull their scholarship or not ask them back…I do agree that most teams do oversign, but my point is and mostly this is to Gatorhooch, based on what you have committed, his list on who is leaning to be a gator seems a little over the top as to what you can sign..Lets see what happens on signing day…
dawgster
January 10th, 2010
6:54 pm
TampaGator, i will agree you do have a great program, but the gator nation cockiness how you think you are the only great program in existence is amazing…Yes, you have had a great recruiting class, but theres very little difference from Number 1 to Number 15 for the most part, Please quit telling us how great you are, we get it already, and yes the dawgs and some other teams are behind you right now, but things do turn, so getting caught up in winning some recruiting battles is nice, lets see what happens…I still will be interested to see what Coach Meyer does, if his health is an issue then he should do whats best for his family, i still believe the change of heart has alot to do about recruiting and what the gator nation thought they may lose in recruits..But maybe a little rest will reenergize him, we will see, everything that went down with that situation is a little odd, but again i respect any person that puts his family first above anything else on this earth…
You mean "Good Ole...
January 10th, 2010
7:11 pm
if you end up at tech Mr. sims..you better learn to twirl a baton..and quick!!! lmao
You mean "Good Ole...
January 10th, 2010
7:13 pm
course tech needs no receivers…………they can’t pass….rofl
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 10th, 2010
7:27 pm
You mean CMR can sign another QB ? Great. The more the merrier .
POSER
January 10th, 2010
8:17 pm
The kid is lucky to have so many great schools after him. I just really believe Mr. Kiffen will not last at Tenn. He’s to immature, and does’nt think clearly before makeing a move. I also believe CMR can land this kid if he just takes the time to give him a little attention. I live in the Gainesville area and have been told Simms has always been a big UGA fan. If UGA wants him they can get him.
Yankee 16 Years in the ATL
January 10th, 2010
8:52 pm
As a former NE’er (although I tell folks I’m from “southern NH”), I LOVE the way SEC fans talk smack to each other. Knowledgeable and downright deadpan funny. To hell with the columnists. The comments section is what you have to read.
SEC Realist
January 10th, 2010
9:16 pm
Florida and Alabama are so far ahead of the pack in the SEC, no other team has a chance of winning the title. Saban and Meyer are easily the best coaches in the country, now that pete carroll is going pro. Mack Brown? don’t make me laugh–too many chokes and dumb calls in big games. he’s still eating crow over that dumb shovel pass in the first half that cost UT the game! Dawg / tennessee fans–get used to years of minor bowls—your coaches don’t have it.
Not Disappointed
January 10th, 2010
9:39 pm
Good luck to this young man where every he goes!
Crimson nation
January 10th, 2010
10:50 pm
Couldn’t help but read Katie’s comments on the previous page and just about fall out laughing.
Let me help you out there Katie. Our mascot is not a hog. Its an elephant named big Al. Funny you should make fun of our women. I’m sure you’re every bit hotter than the crimsonettes that we see on tv when Bama plays.Not!!!
And of course you just couldn’t wait to say that we wouldn’t have won if McCoy hadn’t gotten hurt and so on and so on. Sorry sweetie. Injuries are part of the game and if you don’t want our mean ole defensive end pounding on McCoy then block him.
But since you are complaining lets just have a do over. And lets start with the Texas OU game which Texas won 16-13 and won only because OU’s Heisman winning qb Sam Bradford went down early in the 1st qtr with a shoulder injury. Funny but I never heard any griping over Tejas not deserving the win went Bradford went down.
Anyway, whine all you want about McCoy. I’ll just keep celebrating with my latest national championship. Can you speak up katie? I can’t hear you. My bcs trophy is clanging and banging and partying and making noise along with our 7 other national championships. Get’s kinda rowdy with all them makin all that noise. Guess your program probably wouldn’t know about any of that now would it?