Husker QB Jeff Sims Gets Plaudits From the Defensive Side

Defensive coordinator Tony White says the player he coached against in 2020 is 'on a different level' now

Joe Hudson | Aug 18, 2023

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Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims got a vote of confidence Friday from someone who sees him every day from the other side of the ball.

Husker defensive coordinator Tony White coached against Sims in 2020 when the player was at Georgia Tech and White was at Syracuse. Sims, then a true freshman, had a rough outing that day, throwing four interceptions in a 37-20 road loss.

Now three years older and operating in a new system and under new coaching, "Sims is a different player," White said, citing his reads, arm strength, maturity and confidence in the pocket. "He's on a different level. ... Defending him on the other side, he's making me a better coach for sure."

As for his own players, White praised the defensive line and its chemistry under position coach Terrance Knighton: "Those guys are playing their butts off right now. ... When those guys are playing physical and fast, you've got a chance, so I like where those guys are at."

With the Aug. 31 opener at Minnesota less than two weeks away, White said one goal of Saturday's scrimmage will be making sure the defense's communication and organization are game-ready. The coaches, he said, are "stepping back and letting the guys organize themselves, communicate themselves, operate substitutions the right way."

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Coverage

Husker247 | Friday quick hits: Tony White on what he wants to see in the scrimmage; single-digit guys; defending Jeff Sims
Inside Nebraska | Quick Hits from DC Tony White
KLKN | Quinton Newsome could be among top DBs in Big Ten, Tony White says
Nebraska Athletics | Football Fall Camp Video & Report: Aug. 18
Omaha World-Herald* | DC Tony White bullish on defensive line, Jeff Sims
Omaha World-Herald* | Nebraska trimming playbook for season opener at Minnesota
Omaha World-Herald* | Quarterback Jeff Sims is on 'a different level' at Nebraska
Omaha World-Herald* | 'A testament to them': Nebraska defense outnumbers offense in single-digit jerseys
Omaha World-Herald* | Quinton Newsome becoming the elder statesman of a cornerback room full of leaders
Lincoln Journal Star* | Path to playing time in Nebraska's secondary more open this season than last
Lincoln Journal Star* | By stretching and cross-training, Omar Brown primed for bigger role in Year 2

Day 17 ☑️ #GBR x #WhatsNExt!
Posted by Nebraska Football on Friday, August 18, 2023

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Published Aug 18, 2023

JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.