Ryan Sims

Position:
Defensive Tackle
Height:
6-4
Weight:
285
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Spartanburg, S.C.
High School:
Dorman

Has the perfect build for an outstanding tackle at 6-4, 291 pounds • Excellent run-stopper, but can also get to the quarterback • Earned the highest honor in the weight room during the offseason.

2001 • Senior Season
Was named the Defensive MVP of Carolina’s 16-10 win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl • Had six tackles, including three tackles for loss and one sack against the Tigers • Selected first-team All-ACC as a senior • Helped to anchor one of the nation’s top defenses • Defense allowed less than 100 yards rushing in six of 12 games, including a season-low 52 by NC State • Had 51 (23 solo) tackles in the regular season, including eight for losses of 34 yards • Had at least one TFL in six games • Was among the team leaders with seven tackles at Texas • Was excellent versus FSU, recording two sacks for a loss of 14 yards, as well as two quarterback hurries • Ranked second on the team in sacks with five for 30 yards • Recorded a team-high 20 QB hurries and was credited with four pass deflections.

2000 • junior season One of the top defensive tackles in the ACC • Had 52 tackles, including 26 solo stops and 26 assists, nine tackles for loss for 51 yards and six sacks for 36 yards • Was second among ACC defensive tackles in sacks with six, trailing only Maryland’s Kris Jenkins who had seven • Was fourth on the team in sacks and helped Carolina establish a school record with 53 sacks • Began the year with two outstanding games, combining for four tackles for loss and three sacks • Had seven tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack vs. Tulsa • Had five tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks at Wake Forest • Registered a season-high nine tackles and had one sack vs. NC State • Had five tackles and one sack against Georgia Tech and Clemson • Finished the year with 11 quarterback hurries, three pass deflections and one fumble recovery • Started all 11 games and played 606 snaps, including a season-high 77 snaps at Virginia.

1999 • Sophomore Season
One of six defensive players who started all 11 games • Made 33 tackles, including six for losses • Was the fourth-leading tackler among defensive linemen • Was third on the team in negative yardage tackles • Had a career-high 10 tackles in Carolina’s 10-6 win over NC State • Had seven solo tackles against the Wolfpack • Had three tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including a 7-yard quarterback sack, in that game • Had three solo tackles against Virginia, including a tackle for a loss • Also had tackles for losses against Indiana and Wake Forest • Knocked down passes against Wake Forest and NC State • Played 561 snaps • Played 50 or more snaps in seven games.

1998 • Freshman Season
One of four true freshmen to play • Played in all 11 regular-season games and the Las Vegas Bowl • Saw action on 409 snaps • Played a season-high 45 snaps against NC State and 44 against Stanford • Averaged more than 34 plays per game • Had 31 tackles (15 primary), including four tackles for losses of 19 yards and two sacks for 14 yards • Broke up two passes and pressured the quarterback five times • Had a season-high six tackles against Stanford • Made four tackles against Clemson, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Duke • Knocked down passes against Pittsburgh and NC State • Made his first collegiate sack against the Panthers and added one later against Duke • Statistical quirk denied him his first official sack when he took down Clemson’s quarterback for a big loss, but the play was ruled intentional grounding • Had three tackles, including a 13-yard tackle for loss against San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Dorman High School
First-team all-state, all-region and all-area selection • Played for Coach David Gutshall • Named the top defensive lineman in the state by the Greenville News • Captain and Defensive Most Valuable Player for the South Carolina squad in the Shrine Bowl • Had 61 tackles, including 15 for losses and eight quarterback sacks, two pass breakups and one caused fumble as a senior • Threw the shot and the discus for the track team • Finished second in the region in the shot.

Personal
Born Ryan O’Neal Sims on May 4, 1980 in Spartanburg, S.C. • Majoring in communications • His father, Ronnie, played pro baseball (AAA) for the Boston Red Sox.