Sims Honored For His Offensive Performance in Saturday’s Win Over West Virginia
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas halfback James Sims received some much deserved recognition following his stellar play in Kansas’ win over West Virginia Saturday. Sims, who had a career-day running the ball, was named Offensive Player of the Week in the Big 12 by Athlon Sports, and he was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week by the Big 12 Conference.
Sims, a native of Irving, Texas, put on a dominant performance for the Jayhawks in their win over West Virginia. He set a new career-best rushing mark with 211 yards against the Mountaineers. Sims became the first Jayhawk to rush for 200 or more yards in a game since Tony Pierson did so against Texas Tech in 2012, and logged the most rushing yards by a Kansas player since Reggie Duncan ran for 227 yards against Texas Tech during the 2001 season. Sims’ 211 yards was the 15th-best rushing effort in Kansas history and the second most by a Big 12 player in 2013.
Amongst his 211 rushing yards, Sims ran for the longest rush of the season by Jayhawk twice in the second quarter. His first was a 62-yard run and the second was a 68-yard sprint for a touchdown. Sim’s 68-yard rush was the longest of his career, surpassing his previous career long of 64 yards against Texas in 2012.
The senior captain rushed for three touchdowns in guiding the Jayhawks to their first Big 12 win in more than three seasons. The last time a Jayhawk ran in three touchdowns in a single game was Sims in 2010 against Colorado, KU’s last conference victory prior to Saturday’s win over West Virginia. Sims now has 34 career rushing touchdowns and is seven away from tying the Kansas all-time record of 41 rushing touchdowns set by June Henley from 1993-96.
Sims is the second Kansas player to be honored by the Big 12 Conference in its weekly awards as punter Trevor Pardula was honored as Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 23. He is the first Jayhawk to pick up the conference’s offensive honor since Todd Reesing was tabbed for the weekly award on Dec. 1, 2008.
Additionally, Sims was tabbed an honorable mention running back of the week by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). The CFPA are based on objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
Sims and his KU teammates will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 23 when the Jayhawks travel to Iowa State for a 7 p.m., game at Jack Trice Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1.
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