Greatest Kansas Football Players of All-Time Bracket: James Sims vs David Winbush

(6) James Sims

Sims ran for the Jayhawks from 2010-2013, meaning he got an equal share of the Gill and Weis regimes. However, not even terrible coaching could keep Sims from running his way into the record books; he is currently third in career rushing yards (3592) and second in career rushing TDs (34) at KU. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry despite the fact that opposing defenses had absolutely no reason to fear the downfield passing game. He was also one of the more premier pass catchers in Kansas football history from the RB position, hauling in 72 receptions for 587 yards and two TDs.

Sims made an impact right away; the first time he saw action was KU’s second game of the year in 2010, when Sims started as a freshman, going for 101 yards and leading the Jayhawks past heavily-favored Georgia Tech. He was the first freshman in KU history to break the 100-yard mark in his KU debut.

He was finally named first team All-Big 12 his senior year (2003), which saw him rush for 1110 yards on only 230 attempts, good for a 4.8 average. That season included this enjoyable 230 yard, 3 TD effort against West Virginia, a 31-19 Kansas victory. You can relive those three touchdowns here.

Sims went undrafted but was picked up by the Green Bay Packers, however, he did not stick in the NFL.

(11) David Winbush

Winbush also had the joy of playing on terrible KU teams, in his case, for Terry Allen from 1997-2000. He finished his career in the top-8 in rushing yards and rushing TDs despite splitting carries with other backs like Eric Vann and Moran Norris. Had Winbush (556) received the sheer number of carries that backs such as June Henley (823) and James Sims (798) did, it’s likely he’d be higher in the career statistics categories as he averaged 4.7 yards per carry (Henley 4.7 ypc, Sims 4.5).

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Earlier this year, Winbush was convicted in Texas of indecent liberties with a child, a 16-year old student at the high school where he was teaching. As we did with Dana Stubblefield, James Sims will move on in the bracket via forfeit.

Other matchups can be found here.