Football Player Profile - Garrett Sims

After being a staple on the Dragon defense last year, senior Garrett Sims hopes to make just as much of a splash this year, on the other side of the ball. This season, Sims will be making the switch from the defensive line to Offensive Guard.

“Last season, I led the defensive tackles in both sacks and tackles,” Sims said. “I got a few good shots in, but our defense allows the linebackers to make most of the big plays. During the offseason, they switched me to the offensive line.”

Though he is now on offense, Sims says that his favorite part of football will always be taking down the other team’s quarterback.

“The best feeling in football is definitely sacking the quarterback,” he said. “I’m an offensive player this year, but there is nothing better in football than popping the quarterback in the earhole.”

Regardless of what side of the ball he is on, one thing that will remain constant for Sims is his relentless dedication and his drive to play as well as he can and to help lead his team to victory.

“I want to keep my team together for as long as possible,” Sims said. “I look forward to punishing any person or team that tries to keep me from achieving anything less than perfection.”

One of these moments of punishment came to an unsuspecting Trinity player during Sims’ sophomore year, a play that he still remembers as one of his favorites.

“When I was a sophomore, I hit a kid on Trinity so hard that he got up crying and threw a punch at (receiver) Sean Landers and got himself thrown out of the game.”

Whether he is playing offense or defense, Sims says that his speed is one of his biggest assets, because it not only catches opponents off guard, but makes it difficult for them to defeat him. In addition, Sims says that his general mindset makes him an even better player.

“The best part of my game is my running game,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to stop a kid who runs a 4.8 40 time and weight 270 pounds. I’m also a very confident player, and I just like to knock people down.”

Sims says that throughout his years playing football, he has looked up to his father, and though he just recently moved to the offensive line, he says that he has developed a good relationship with his coaches there.

“I look up to my dad, he’s the silent man in the crowd who’s eyes never leave the game,” Sims said. “Also, my Offensive line coaches mean a lot to me.”

When not playing football, Sims manages to play lacrosse in the offseason, but says he finds little time for much else. In addition, Sims says he is working to regain weight that he lost while playing lacrosse in time for the football season.

“Outside of football, I try to just chill as much as I can,” he said. “Football takes a lot out of me, and in the spring I start up lacrosse, which is fun during offseason. Last spring, I lost 55 pounds in 2 months during lacrosse. I’m preparing for the football season by working out and eating a lot because I have to gain a lot more weight.”

By Sean Meehan, Carroll Boosters Staff Writer