NCAA Grants Alabama Transfer QB Phillip Sims 2012 Eligibility at Virginia
By Kyle Kensing
Per VirginiaSports.com,
the NCAA granted Alabama transfer quarterback Phillip Sims immediate eligibility
for the 2012 season.
Sims, a native of Chesapeake, Va., filed for a hardship waiver that the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported last month, “cites a family emergency as the reason he switched schools, saying he wanted to be closer to home.”
Sims left Alabama in early May. Rivals.com ranked Sims the nation’s No. 2 overall quarterback prospect in 2010. He was in a heated competition for the starter’s role prior to the 2011 campaign with AJ McCarron before losing out and serving as the Tide’s reserve. He saw sparing action, passing 28 times for 163 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns.
Though his debut campaign was underwhelming, there’s no denying Sims’ talent. At Oscar F. Smith High in 2009, Sims passed for 2938 yards and scored 33 touchdowns to just four interceptions. His eligibility should enter him into a new quarterback competition, this time with UVa. returner Michael Rocco.
Rocco emerged from the fray before 2011 to captain the Cavalier offense, beating out David Watford. Rocco was shaky early, but settled down during the decisive UVa. win streak spanning late mid-October to late November. Over a four-game span, he threw for nearly 1000 yards, scored seven touchdowns and was intercepted just once. The culmination of that stretch was a defeat of Florida State in which Rocco hit 71 percent of his pass attempts against the stingy Seminole defense.
His struggles were plenty, though. He had three interceptions with no scores in a loss to Southern Miss, and was ineffective in the Cavaliers’ showdown of ranked foes vs. rival Virginia Tech. Rocco ended up sharing snaps with Watford when the former struggled, though the Hampton (Va.) product played like a true freshman in extended appearances vs. USM, Idaho and NC State.
Sims joined the UVa. after spring football, thus is at something of a disadvantage. However, the ensuing competition in summer camp will be intriguing. The Cavaliers return an excellent rushing corps, and Mike London has a stout defense.