The football world is his oyster

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This article was published 25/02/2021 (1678 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As a player, Nic Demski has racked up a highlight reel of dramatic plays on the football field. As a talent evaluator, he sees some of the same big-play potential for Dallas Sims.

And now the word on Sims’ athleticism and ability to catch the ball is getting out. 

The 15-year-old Dakota Collegiate student received his first NCAA Division 1 football scholarship offer last week. The offer, coming from Iowa State, may be unprecedented for a Canadian prospect so young.

But wait, the story gets better.

Sims, a wide receiver, didn’t play 12-man tackle football last fall when pandemic restrictions shut down the Winnipeg High School Football League season, and he has only just started to learn the position.

After spending his formative years as a running back, he’s been training and playing wide receiver for Recruit Ready’s 7-on-7 youth team, where five-year CFL vet Demski is the offensive co-ordinator.

“For a 15-year-old who hasn’t played a down of receiver in tackle football yet to receive a scholarship from Iowa State, I mean, it’s pretty remarkable,” says Demski. “But at the end of the day, it just kind of goes back to what Dallas is about. I think he’s 6-3 and he’s already dunking windmills. It just kind of goes back to his explosiveness.”

The 6-3, 198-pounder is expected to generate more Division 1 offers in the coming months, including others from the Power 5 conferences such as the Big 12, home of Iowa State.

“Dallas is a lean guy and the way he plays basketball and the way he’s explosive on the court, it just translates so well to being a receiver, especially in Canadian football,” says Demski, adding he was generating interest from NCAA schools when he was coming out of Oak Park High School in 2010 but never received a Division 1 offer.

“He was a running back before, so his ability after the catch and being able to run and make people miss after the catch, makes him a more complete receiver in my eyes.”

Sims has a plan to hone his craft before he makes a final choice on which college to attend. In June, he’s transferring to Clearwater Academy in Florida, a football factory, where he will join a number of other international players on the roster, including approximately two dozen Canadians.

In Clearwater, he’ll join current Academy football player Rhyland Kelly, a promising 17-year-old cornerback from Winnipeg, and another newcomer from his hometown, safety Trae Tomlinson.

Will missing the 2020 fall season become a handicap for Sims?

“No, not for me necessarily,” says Sims. “I do miss the football season and I think if I’d have had a football season I’d be better. But I’m still putting in that off-field work that no one sees.”

The on-field work has been crucial, too. Sims has added three inches and 35 pounds to his frame in the past year and he’s worked with another local CFLer, Anthony Coombs, on his footwork. 

“I had a lot of speed training and that helped me get my running form back because my running form was messed up from growing really fast,” says Sims. 

Demski, a slotback for the Blue Bombers, has helped him refine his pass-catching technique while also passing on some life lessons. Sims says he’s absorbed all that wisdom, including one of the most important: “Do your schoolwork,” he says. “School is major.” 

On the field, his coaches feel Sims has huge potential.

“He’ll either be like a Chase Claypool type of wide receiver, or if he continues to get as big as he’s getting, he might end up being like a Travis Kelce type of tight end,” says Recruit Ready co-founder Brad Black.

‘I feel like it’s super soon because I’m only in Grade 10. And I’d like to see how many offers I could get…. I probably (won’t choose) until sometime in Grade 11’– Sims, on scholarship offers 

Making a decision on a college destination will wait.

“I feel like it’s super soon because I’m only in Grade 10,” says Sims. “And I’d like to see how many offers I could get…. I probably (won’t choose) until sometime in Grade 11.”

Moving to Florida has been a major change to Kelly’s life. After playing his Grade 11 season at Oak Park, he made a position change — going from running back to corner — before taking on the higher level of play in Florida.

“The biggest thing it’s done for me is get me lots of exposure, great coaching staff, a high level of play,” says Kelly, a 6-2, 190-pounder. “Coming down to Florida has really like bettered my football career, my academic career and setting me up for life after high school.”

Black, who first suggested the shift to corner, says his former pupil has all the attributes to be successful.

“He’s a true cover corner,” said Black. “You can use them in man you can use him in Cover 2. He’s that long, lanky Richard Sherman kind of guy.”

Kelly played 10 games at Clearwater last fall and will return to the school for a post-grad year in fall for more football and academic seasoning with plans to start college in 2022.

Two weeks ago, he received his first Division 1 scholarship offer from Illinois State and recently he’s had talks with recruiters from Washington, Washington State, Baylor, Auburn, Rutgers, Coastal Carolina and Iowa State. After early nerves, he’s found comfort in the recruiting process.

“At first, I had no idea what I was doing — it was too difficult,” says Kelly. “And now it’s like smooth sailing. I understand how to talk to coaches and how to keep interest with them and how hold conversations.”

Making a decision will be done carefully.

“It’s something I have to go over with my family and coaches,” says Kelly. “It depends on what I want to major in, whether I want to be close to home, not close to home.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa