Harding’s Sims commits to YSU
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Warren G. Harding senior Stephen Sims announced his verbal commitment to Youngstown State's football program Friday afternoon.
A player capable of playing on either side of the ball, Sims totaled more than 1,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and 90 tackles for Girard as a junior. After announcing his decision on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Sims said his experience being recruited by YSU has been "amazing."
"They've been recruiting me, and I was going to the camps every year, working, [getting] winter reps every year," Sims said. "They always stayed in touch. They always wanted me to come down."
YSU offered Sims in mid-June and was one of two schools to present Sims with an offer, with the other being Walsh. Sims said that during the recruiting process he spoke with Penguins head coach Doug Phillips, cornerbacks and recruiting coordinator Christian Dukes and wide receivers coach Jelani Berassa.
Ultimately, Sims decided that staying close to home was the right move for him.
"It was just just somewhere that when they offered me, I really liked it," Sims said. "I had long talks with Coach Phillips also.
"My dad gets to stay home, all my family's here, my friends, so a lot of support is here."
Sims, who has played wide receiver and defensive back in high school and described his potential position as athlete for the time being, has high expectations for his senior season at Harding this fall.
"I just want to get better, [be a] better player, better leader, lead my team to a lot of wins," Sims said. "I just want to be a better teammate and bring a lot of strength over."
Have an interesting story? Contact Preston Byers by email at pbyers@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @PresByers.