Steven Sims moving up on Kansas career receiving charts
Posted by Tom Keegan
October 30, 2017 at 12:33 p.m.Advertisement
Kansas wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. (11) sports a work helmet and a sledge hammer to inspire his teammates after pulling in a deep touchdown pass during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 at Memorial Stadium. by Nick Krug
Junior receiver Steven Sims’ career day in Saturday’s 30-20 loss to Kansas State moved him moving up the school’s all-time receiving charts.
Sims caught nine passes for 233 yards and a touchdown and averaged 25.9 yards per catch. His 233-yard game was the third-highest production in KU history, ranking behind a pair of games from Dezmon Briscoe, who had a 269-yard game against Oklahoma as a sophomore and a 242-yard day vs. Missouri as a junior.
Sims' big day grew his career reception yardage to 1,845, sixth-highest in school history, and he has 16 games remaining. His 13th touchdown catch moved him into a an eighth-place tie with Marcus Henry. He ranks fourth with 134 catches.
Sims came to KU from Travis High in Houston as part of the recruiting Class of 2015, the same year that David Beaty's staff recruited standout defensive end Dorance Armstrong from North Shore High in Houston.
A look at KU's career leaders in receiving yardage:
| Player | Yards | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Dezmon Briscoe |
3,240 | 2007-09 |
| 2 - Kerry Meier |
2,309 | 2006-09 |
| 3 - Willie Vaughn |
2,266 | 1985-88 |
| 4 - Mark Simmons |
2,161 | 2002-05 |
| 5 - Richard Estell |
1,997 | 1982-85 |
| 6 - Steven Sims |
1,845 | 2015-present |
| 7 - Emmett Edwards |
1,808 | 1972-74 |
| 8 - Bob Johnson |
1,779 | 1981-83 |
| 9 - Brandon Rideau |
1,636 | 2001-04 |
| 10 - Marcus Henry |
1,599 | 2004-07 |
| Source: KU media guide |
The top 10 career reception leaders in KU history:
| Player | Receptions | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Kerry Meier |
226 | 2006-09 |
| 2 - Dezmon Briscoe |
219 | 2007-09 |
| 3 - Mark Simmons |
155 | 2002-05 |
| 4 - Steven Sims |
134 | 2015-present |
| 5 - Willie Vaughn |
133 | 1985-88 |
| 6 - Brandon Rideau |
131 | 2001-04 |
| 7 - Dexton Fields |
129 | 2005-08 |
| 8 - Clark Green |
122 | 2002-05 |
| 9 - Richard Estell |
117 | 1982-85 |
| 10 - Charles Gordon |
106 | 2003-05 |
| Source: KU media guide |
KU's all-time touchdown reception leaders:
| Player |
TD receptions |
Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Dezmon Briscoe |
31 | 2007-09 |
| 2 - Kerry Meier |
18 | 2006-09 |
| 3 (tie) - Bruce Adams |
17 |
1972-74 |
| 3 (tie) - Willie Vaughn |
17 | 1985-88 |
| 5 - Mark Simmons |
16 | 2002-05 |
| 6 - Dexton Fields |
15 | 2005-08 |
| 7 - Brandon Rideau |
14 | 2001-04 |
| 8 (tie) - Marcus Henry |
13 | 2004-07 |
| 8 (tie) - Steven Sims |
13 | 2015-present |
| 10 - Isaac Byrd |
12 | 1994-96 |
| Source: KU media guide |
and 1 others
Comments
John Fitzgerald 11 months, 2 weeks ago
He can be the leader by the end of his career as long as he plays two more years. That's pretty impressive. Also, it's crazy how 3 of the top 10 WR's are from the Orange Bowl team. Shows you just how good that team was.
Tom Keegan 11 months, 2 weeks ago
Yes, it does, and how good the quarterback was. My favorite stat regarding that Orange Bowl team: One junior-college transfer among starting 24. It was guard Chet Hartley.
Stephen Burtin 11 months, 2 weeks ago
I sure do miss the days of being able to redshirt our young talent.
Tom Keegan 11 months, 2 weeks ago
I actually think some mistakes have been made in that regard. For example, Frazier should have red-shirted last season. Instead, he played one game.
John Fitzgerald 11 months, 2 weeks ago
That's the difference between a coach that knows ALL the intricacies that go with coaching compared to a guy that just doesn't. Mangino was a very detail oriented guy before he got to KU, so he didn't just know his job as an OC at OU, he knew everyone's job, including the HC. So his transition was smooth and he knew what to do and expect. And it showed. As for Beaty, he was a WR Coach and an OC, and I'm fairly certain he just knew those jobs. At least that's how it appears.
Jack Hoff 11 months, 2 weeks ago
Beaty was a successful head coach at a Texas power, that is no small feat. And yes High School coaches can make successful head coaches.
John Fitzgerald 11 months, 2 weeks ago
I’m sorry, but did you just compare a HS HC to a CFB HC?
Jack Hoff 11 months, 2 weeks ago
That’s not fair to Beaty. He had 50 players on his roster when he got here. He didn’t have the luxury of redshirting players because they had no depth. It has nothing to do with being detail oriented or whatever. They literally had no 2nd string players on the oline in his first year to get through a full practice. Beaty has done a fine job building this roster. His first true recruiting class are only sophomores, and he’s got some studs that need developing. Weis still has holdovers here. Y’all just wanna bash Beaty for everything and act like Mangino didnt lose 64-0 to Kstate early on here.
John Brazelton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
When your football program is a bottom feeder which KU is, it takes a while to attract good talent. We're now starting to compete in Kansas City, Lawrence and Wichita state-wide as well as smaller Kansas schools. Unfortunately, Texas high school talent is pretty well picked over by SEC and Big 12 southern schools, so KU has to take a chance on smaller high school talent there. That's why the Louisiana pipeline is so important to KU's future recruiting success. It takes two or three football gems each recruiting class like Sims, Armstrong and Wise to turn your program around. That's one reason why the constant fire-the-coach mantra only delays progress and the program has to start over again each time a new coach is hired.
Lawrence McGlinn 11 months, 2 weeks ago
Sims is an amazingly talented and focused guy to be so successful on the football equivalent of a sinking ship. Well done!
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