Ranking Alabama football starting quarterbacks under Nick Saban
By Ronald Moody
No. 6 – Blake Sims
The Gainesville, Georgia local arrived at the Capstone as the 33rd ranked athlete by Rivals. The five-foot-eleven former running back guided Alabama football to the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014 after beating out junior transfer Jacob Coker.
Blake Sims completed 252 passes for 3,487 yards with 28 touchdowns and ten interceptions. His exciting play under first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin produced the 18th ranked offense in the country averaging 484 yards per game. The 28 passing touchdowns from Sims led the SEC.
Sims’ innate ability to keep drives alive with his running made him a dangerous weapon for Kiffin. His game-opening 87-yard touchdown pass to Kenyan Drake against Florida was the stuff of legends.
Against Auburn, Sims passed for 312 yards and four touchdowns. At the receiving end of Blake’s arm was Amari Cooper who set a school record against the Tigers with 224 yards on 13 receptions.
Blake Sims guided the Crimson Tide to an SEC championship win against the Missouri Tigers, however, lost to national champions Ohio State.