By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Terrin Waack)

Quarterbacks can overthrow Cam Sims, but the University of Alabama wide receiver says he’ll go get it regardless.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Sims believes he brings a serious deep threat to the Alabama receiving corps. He can jump and snatch the ball out of the air.

“With all the quarterbacks, the only thing I tell them is just throw it,” Sims said.

The junior has earned the right to voice such an opinion.

Back in March 2015, Sims suffered a serious injury during a spring practice. He tore two ligaments in his knee back, his ACL and LCL.

Then, the unexpected happened.

Sims’ quickly recovered, so much so that he was back in September to open up the Crimson Tide’s 2015 season against Wisconsin. He saw action in 13 of Alabama’s 15 games last season, which he finished with six receptions for 46 yards.

With three games of the 2016 season under his belt now, Sim feels great. He said rehab went well and trainers helped him through it all. More important, his knee is healthy.

“It’s like I never a surgery or nothing,” Sims said.

He was fine last season, but he wore a large brace. Now, he believes he’s 100 percent back, even after getting knocked by a Southern Cal player on Sept. 3.

En route to a 52-6 pummeling of the Trojans, Sims ended up with a bruised shoulder and had to leave the game prematurely.

“I was nervous and don’t get me wrong, they hurt it,” Sims said.

As a precaution, Sims did not play against Western Kentucky the following weekend. He did return in Alabama’s most recent victory over Ole Miss, though. He entered the game after fellow wide receiver ArDarius Stewart exited due to a sprained knee.

As of Monday, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Stewart is the biggest question mark for the team’s game against Kent State on Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Sims’ departure would leave a void in Alabama’s receiving core, too.

“Robert [Foster] will play some, but the guy that’s been playing really well for us is Cam Sims, so would be play him as well,” Saban said. “And there will be an opportunity for some other to play.”

Along with Sims and Foster, Saban is looking in true freshman Trevon Diggs’ direction. Diggs has been practicing on both sides of the ball, but Saban plans to focus on offense with him this week.

Regardless of who is picked, Sims is prepared to step up and share more playing time with starting wide receiver Calvin Ridley, just as Stewart has been doing.

Stewart has some big shoes to fill, though. When he wasn’t hauling in receptions, he’d be blocking downfield, which Sims knows is something he’ll have to do and has been paying attention to.

“I am a big receiver,” Sims said, “so I feel I can do it. Every time I see him make that type of block, I go up to him and be like, ‘That’s a great block. How did you do that?’ Stuff like that, and he’ll show me.”

Three games into the season, Ridley leads Alabama with 19 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown. Stewart is right behind Ridley with 13 receptions for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

Sims has a single reception for 12 yards.

When the ball is in the air, though, all bets are off.

“I’ll go get it,” Sims said.

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Source:: The Crimson White Sports