The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 COMMITMENT PROFILE Atlanta Westlake four-star cornerback Myles Sims and his parents spent a weekend in Ann Arbor in early March, and the visit could not have gone better. Rivals.com's No. 8 cornerback and No. 51 overall prospect in the country saw everything U-M has to offer and is now a part of Michi- gan's 2018 class. "When I sat down and re- evaluated that trip to Michigan and compared it with others that's when I realized it," Sims said. "I just thought Michigan had everything I was looking for in a school, so why wait any longer?" At 6-3 and 173 pounds, Sims became one of Michigan's top targets in the secondary early on in the process and made him feel like a priority. That attention and the trajectory of Michigan's program were enough to convince Sims that Ann Arbor was the place for him. "Michigan is coming up," Sims said. "With Coach [Jim] Harbaugh there, he's going to take the team to the level where they are competing for national championships. "You combine that with the plan they laid out for me academically and their business program, and they are setting me up for life after foot- ball. Michigan just fits me all the way around." As is the case with most recruits who visit Michigan, Harbaugh left a huge mark, and in Sims' case it's something he'll now get to experi- ence for the next four to five years. "Getting to know Coach Harbaugh was a big eye-opener," Sims said. "He's like the foundation of the pro- gram — it starts with the head coach. He brings energy to the team. "He's a player 's coach. He's not always about business, but when it's time for business he's about it. I can talk to him about anything, and the things that he has going for the pro- gram are phenomenal." Sims also credited his primary re- cruiter, Wolverines assistant coach Chris Partridge, with playing a role in his decision to commit. "Since he met me when my pro- cess first started, our relationship has gotten stronger and stronger," Sims said. "They were one of the first to offer me and stayed strong the whole time. Some schools offered then dis- appeared and then came back, but he was always there and the bond kept getting stronger." Sims pulled the trigger just over a week before U-M's spring game April 15. "I wanted to commit before the game so I could give the fan base, stu- dents and alumni a chance to get to know me," Sims said. "I'm part of the Michigan family now." Rivals.com Southeast re- cruiting analyst Woody Wom- mack has seen "Spider," as he's affectionately known, many times in person and thinks he can be a standout at Michigan. "Sims has great size, and even though he does look a lit- tle lanky he's not a weak kid," Wommack explained. "I know some of the other services have him ranked a little lower, but when you have 60-plus offers, all committable, you're an elite guy. "There's really nothing he isn't good at back there as a corner, and because he's so big he could develop into a really good safety, too. I love him and think he can be a real star at Michigan." Sims compiled 51 tackles, four interceptions, 10 passes broken up and one forced fumble during his junior season. At the time of his com- mitment, he was the fourth pledge in the 2018 class for the Wolverines was the second four-star from the Peach State, joining Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County outside linebacker Otis Reese. Since Sims' announcement, three-star running back Christian Turner out of Buford (Ga.) High has also dropped for the Maize and Blue. — Brandon Brown Georgia Cornerback Myles Sims Sees A Bright Future At Michigan FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Atlanta Westlake cornerback Myles Sims is listed at 6-3 and 173 pounds, and he's got extremely long arms giving him an 80-inch wingspan. His overall length and athleticism are on an elite level, and he's viewed as one of the best cornerbacks in the country. Sims is lanky, but he's also extremely quick in and out of his breaks despite be- ing one of the taller cornerbacks in the 2018 class. He also possesses very solid ball skills and knows how to go get the ball at the highest point. Areas Of Improvement: Sims is quite complete as a high school junior, but he is quite thin at 173 pounds. Cornerback isn't a position where players need to be overly stout, but he'll have to bulk up in order to withstand the punishment of the Big Ten. Michigan cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich has gone on record about how important it is to tackle in Don Brown's scheme, and while Sims is a solid tackler at the high school level he'll need to add some strength in order to maintain a level of proficiency in college. Michigan Player Comparison: Sims compares favorably to former Michigan cornerback Channing Stribling. Both Stribling and Sims are tall and thin while maintaining high-level athleticism and quickness that allows them to cover all types of receivers. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com Sims is listed as a four-star talent, the No. 7 prospect in Georgia, and the No. 8 cornerback and No. 51 overall player nationally by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM