Eric SorensonThe coaches’ voices may not be the first ones you hear this spring when you step onto the practice fields at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear. The boisterous tones could be emanating from senior-to-be defensive tackle Nassir Sims who’s loaded with size, sizzle, raw talent and a handful of Power Five offers from schools around the country.
Make no mistake Sims doesn’t just talk the talk, as a two-year starter and team leader, he backs it up every time he takes the field for the Scorpions.
My voice will be heard.
— Nassir sims (@Nassir_sims) April 1, 2018
“The one thing about Nassir that’s never been a problem is his work ethic,” head coach Jose Lucero said to Sports360AZ.com. “When your leaders are your hardest workers it always works out best for the team. Nassir works his tail off everyday at practice.”
Blessed to say I’ve received my 7th D1 offer from Syracuse university ?* pic.twitter.com/Cnu3wYkmzf
— Nassir sims (@Nassir_sims) May 1, 2018
The 6-foot-3, 285-pounder already has offers from Arizona, Colorado, Oregon State, Syracuse, Washington State, NAU and others. What makes his story even more remarkable is the fact Sims has only been playing football for four years.
“It all started when I watched my [little] brother play his football games,” Sims explained to Sports360AZ.com. “A lot of the kids were bigger than him and beating up on him. I told my mom if I was out there, I could run some of those guys over.”
Sims has been running opposing offensive linemen over since he arrived as a freshman. In his two seasons on varsity he has 18.5 tackles-for-loss, despite frequently facing interior double teams from opposing offenses.
Not only has he made strides on the field, he’s become a more well-rounded student-athlete off of it, as well.
“The main thing is how he’s grown as a young man,” Lucero said. “How he’s grown in the classroom and become better on campus.”
Through it all Sims is trying to keep everything in perspective and enjoy his final season of high football, as well as the blessings around him.
“The whole high school experience has rushed by so quickly,” he said shaking his head. “It’s gone by so fast…it’s been a blessing.”
Something tells me the best has yet to come this fall.
