The Virginian-Pilot
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Oscar Smith quarterback Phillip Sims, one of the nation's most highly regarded quarterbacks in the Class of 2010, verbally committed to the University of Alabama on Wednesday night.
"It's a big deal and I'm still enjoying it," said Sims, contacted in Tuscaloosa on his recruiting visit. "The campus, the environment and the fans are just crazy. It just seems like the right place for me."
Sims, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, led South Hampton Roads in passing yards and touchdowns during the regular season and finished the season with 3,167 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also passed for 334 yards and a Group AAA state playoff record six touchdowns in the Tigers' 54-24 state championship victory over Osbourn.
He has 7,597 career passing yards and is on pace to be the state's all-time yardage leader by the end of his senior season.
Among the many schools recruiting Sims were Georgia, Clemson, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Sims said Alabama coaches have told him he has a chance to play his first season.
"The way it's looking, I've got a chance to play and that's all I ask," he said. "But the recruiting process is far from over because I know other programs want me and will be coming after me harder than ever."
Sims' commitment won't become binding until he signs a letter of intent. He can't do that until the national signing day in February 2010.
Larry Rubama, (757) 446 2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
For more on Sims - and Oscar Smith coach Richard Morgan's reaction - check out Jami Frankenberry's High School Sports blog: http://hamptonroads.com/blogs/jami-frankenberry
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It's up to coaches Groh and Beamer
The bottom line is that the coaches at Virginia Tech and UVa have to
excite players and make them want to play here.
Phil Simms just wasn't interested in the programs that UVa and VA Tech have. I'm a UVa fan. You can't blame it on players when they decide not to play for in-state schools. It says more about the college coaches than about the athletes that are "leaving the state"!
As bad as the offenses at UVa and VA Tech were last year, why would ANY high school quarterback want to commit to those schools now?!
because
UVA is running a spread hd offense which uses a mobile qb... Bama's offense will prepare him for the next level god willing... also, those in Texas, Florida, and Ohio have, over five division one schools to choose from not just two...
State Pride
First off I would like to say congats to Phil Simms and the whole Oscar Smith football program but as a ex all- tidewater football player and local kid why dont any of the big time prospects never stay in state to play football I dont undestand why he would go to Bama when he could have went to UVA and played with his ex high school wide reciver Tim Smith and this year Tidewater player of the year Perry Jones come on young fellas in Texas,Flordia,and Ohio they don't leave to go play football eleswere it was a honor and privalige for me to play with my fellow all tidewater and all state player from virginia when I was in college lets really show the world the power house tidewater football really is
Roll Tide from Tidewater
Saban and Co. on a roll. The future so bright......
alright!
What does phil have over those guys? A State Ring, and a chance to play in the SEC... The game you mention he was 14 years old playing against jrs and seniors... And yea, UVA VT or the Hampton Roads schools have nothing to put up next to Alabama...ROLL TIDE ROLL!
How wonderful this news is.
Its good to have seen his progression up close. I remember the days when he filled in for Dexter Merritt, and proceeded to be annihilated in the post season by a combination of Chima Okoli, Lyndell Gibson, Aaron Douglas, and Grant Wulliman. Reports from the field that day say he was left shaking there in the pocket, at times tearing up under the onslaught. Its refreshing to know that another great Hampton Roads athlete not only gives up playing for colleges in Hampton Roads, but also the entirety of Virginia. Thanks.
What he is saying is that
What he is saying is that just because he commited to Alabama that doesn't mean the other schools will stop calling, thus the recruiting process is not over....
Congrats. But what kind of
Congrats. But what kind of commitment is it, when someone says they're going to play for a certain school, then follows that with the caveat "but the recruiting process is far from over" because other schools still want him? If I were Alabama I have the same perspective as him, because it sounds like this kid is still looking around.