Before Dylan Raiola, before Heinrich Haarberg, and Chubba Purdy, there was the first starting quarterback for the Nebraska football team under Matt Rhule. Jeff Sims came to Lincoln with plenty of hype surrounding him. Years later, the hype has faded, but he's got the chance for the rest of the season to show why there was hype to begin with.
Named the starter ahead of the 2023 season, Sims got off to a disastrous start that he never managed to overcome. He eventually lost the starting job to Heinrich Haarberg and couldn't win it back, even once the team decided to turn to Purdy in the final few games of that first campaign. After the season, Sims departed for Arizona State, where he's remained.
Jeff Sims gets a chance for redemption after struggles at Nebraska
The former Nebraska quarterback has seen playing time here and there in his season and a half for the Sun Devils. However, with Arizona State announcing that starting QB Sam Leavitt is out for the season, it becomes Sims's show.
ASU is still holding out hopes it can compete for the Big 12 crown and a playoff berth. However, sitting at 5-3 and 3-2 in conference, they likely need to win out, starting with a game at Iowa State.
Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, Sims's previous start this season, against the Utah Utes, didn't go well. He completed just 18 of 38 passes for 124 yards. He was also sacked 5 times in the 42-10 loss. He also completed just 6 of 11 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in a 24-16 loss to Houston in relief of Leavitt.
Now, Jeff Sims has four more games to show he can be the man. If the former Nebraska football QB1 can put the team on his back and lead them to the Big 12 title game, it would be quite the redemption act. Considering that the veteran play caller has always been a good man who has in over his head in Lincoln, it would be great to see him get that measure of redemption in the desert.