Nebraska football recruiting news: Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims … – 247Sports
Nebraska football recruiting under Matt Rhule secured its biggest NCAA transfer portal win thus far with former Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims‘ commitment on Sunday, and the media took note. Sims’ pledge came 10 days after an official visit to Lincoln, Nebraska, to see the Huskers Dec. 8.
Injuries limited Sims’ 2022 season to seven games, where he completed 58.5% of his passes for 1,115 yards (58.5%) and five touchdowns to three interceptions while rounding out his production with 288 rushing yards and one score on the ground. Across a three-year, 25-game career with the Yellow Jackets, Sims completed 57.5% of his passes for 4,464 yards and 30 touchdowns against 23 interceptions. The former four-star recruit added 1,152 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground during that span.
The addition of Sims calls Casey Thompson’s future with the Huskers into question, according to media members. Thompson started 10 games last season and completed 63.1% of his passes for 2,407 yards and 17 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. Having already earned one master’s degree, Thompson would have to pursue another to continue playing college football.
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Keep scrolling to see what the media had to say about Sims’ transfer to Nebraska.
Ex-Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims to Nebraska. That’s a nice pickup for Matt Rhule. https://t.co/KeEH0EUGsX
The former Carolina Panthers head coach was hired by Nebraska Nov. 26 and held his first major visit weekend Dec. 8. The Huskers weren’t alone in their pursuit of Sims, who reportedly spurned interest from Indiana and Virginia Tech to join the Big Ten ranks.
Jeff Sims has committed to Nebraska. Coach Matt Rhule is close with Geoff Collins. https://t.co/GvGgUkzbJk
Collins succeeded Rhule at Temple before taking the Georgia Tech job ahead of the 2019 season. Sims and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs were the two highest-ranked recruits in Collins’ first full recruiting class (2020).
Nebraska lands a transfer QB: Georgia Tech’s Jeff Sims.
Love this pickup for the Huskers. https://t.co/wT68SJLZHp
Sims was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 9-ranked quarterback in 247Sports’ 2023 College Football Transfer Portal rankings.
Nebraska’s new QB out of the portal, Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims, is a 6-4, 220-pound athlete. He’s a dual threat, shedding some light on the offense that Matt Rhule and Marcus Satterfield plan to run. Sims has two seasons of eligibility and a redshirt available.
“Nebraska is unlikely to take six scholarship QBs into next summer, if even into spring practice in March,” The Athletic’s Mitch Sherman tweeted. “With Casey Thompson and Logan Smothers in rehab mode, it’ll be an interesting offseason, as always, at the position.”
Nebraska picks up former Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims out of the transfer portal. #Huskers still have a clear QB1 even if Casey Thompson goes elsewhere https://t.co/soRm8l7s5h
Following Nebraska’s win over Iowa in its season-finale, Thompson revealed that he had been playing with a tear in his right labrum and has been mulling his future with the Huskers:
“The demands of playing quarterback at this level, here at the University of Nebraska, it’s a blessing, but it’s a curse sometimes because you have to deal with so much,” Thompson said. “At this point, I’m just excited to rest my body.”
Chatted with @Andrew_Ivins about Jeff Sims, how he fits with Nebraska and how he could have a Bo Nix-like transition with a fresh start in Lincoln under new coach Matt Rhule (VIP): https://t.co/S3VT1qGR27 #Huskers pic.twitter.com/sAlWoDhA2b
“Sims is a guy I’m not writing off,” 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins said. “He’s a guy that can win games at a high level. He’s someone that can elevate his play. And he’s a streaky player. … Talking with people inside his camp, he just wanted a fresh start. He’s going to get that at Nebraska. We’ve seen quarterbacks in recent years find success. Look at Bo Nix at Oregon. He’s kind of a castaway, and he found the right system. He was given a chance and excelled. That’s the goal or vision.”
Week 2 at Folsom Field next season will feature Deion Sanders vs. Matt Rhule and Shedeur Sanders vs. Jeff Sims. Hell yeah. #CUBuffs https://t.co/DdyiKDXMd0
Nebraska heads to Boulder next season to face a Deion Sanders-led Colorado team in Week 2. Sanders’ son Shedeur, the No. 5 quarterback in 247Sports’ Transfer Portal rankings, transferred to Colorado this offseason after throwing for 3,732 yards and 40 touchdowns with Jackson State in 2022.
Malik Hornsby visited Nebraska over the weekend. The Cornhuskers just landed Jeff Sims from Georgia Tech, so I doubt that’s still a potential landing spot for the former Arkansas backup QB. https://t.co/HUBqyCTHlH
Prior to Sims’ commitment, there was mutual interest between former Arkansas quarterback Malik Hornsby and Nebraska, according to his trainer J.P. Tillman.
“Malik coming in there is more about the future of Nebraska,” Tillman told The Omaha World-Herald this week. “Casey (Thompson) has one more year. Right now, we want to get on the field and get plays and start getting used to the offense. Right now, Nebraska is very high on his list.”
Rhule had recruited Hornsby out of high school when he was still the head coach at Baylor.
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