Friday, September 6, 2013

Sims looks to rejuvenate Jackson State ground game

JACKSON, Virginia -- When offensive coordinator Derrick McCall asked Rakeem Sims how he was feeling, Sims didn’t say he felt 100 percent.

Instead, he said, “‘Coach, I’m 110 percent,’” McCall recalls. “So he’s excited and happy to get back into the lineup and get reps. We’re going to ease him back into it. Hopefully he can pick up where he left off last year.”

Sims’ offensive presence was absent during last week’s season opener against Tulane, when Jackson State struggled to a 34-7 loss. As the Tigers’ leading rusher last year, Sims sat out because of an ankle injury. But the junior will debut this season on Saturday, when JSU (0-1) hosts Alabama State (0-1).

Sims averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season and finished with a team-high 784 yards. He is expected to take some of the load off of Tommy Gooden, who was pounded by Tulane’s defense while being held to 57 yards on 20 attempts and a fumble.

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