TALLAHASSEE-Tailback or linebacker?



Either sounds good.



Marcus Sims was a two-way player in Sunday’s NIKE camp in Tallahassee, splitting time between linebacker and running back drills.



It was hard not to notice Sims, one of the most explosive players among some of the best high school prospects in the nation.

"I think he can play either one," North Florida Christian head coach Pete Walker said of his star player’s collegiate path. "Whether he plays linebacker or tailback, he’s going to do a great job for someone. Personally, I think he’ll be a great tailback.

"He has great vision. He makes one cut and gets where he wants to go and then he’s north and south from there. He runs with power and has the speed to break away and hit a home run for you."



Is Sims destined to play running back in college?



His lineage says otherwise. His older brother, Ernie, is a junior linebacker at Florida State and was considered one of the top prospects in the nation in 2003. As a sophomore in 2004, Sims registered 86 tackles, two shy of the team lead.

"Even though they’re similar in a lot of ways, they’re also different," Walker said. "It’s hard to be compared to a guy like Ernie Sims whether he’s your brother or not. Marcus is his own man.

"They are real similar in size and speed. They’re both great athletes."

Pulling Sims out of Tallahassee will be tough for UT, one of the schools that he is interested in. For now, Sims college choices are wide open. Eventually, he’ll make someone a very happy recruiter.



"He has power and speed which makes a special back," Walker said. "He’s strong in the weight room. He works hard. You can just tell. He has size, speed and he’s smart."