How Arizona State quarterback Jeff Sims sees his next few months

Jeff Sims doesn’t exactly know what the future holds, only that it will turn out to be “amazing.” Judging from the passion in his voice and the convincing look in his eyes, it’s easy to believe him.

The Arizona State quarterback was referring to both the Sun Devils’ football program and his own career path after college, which culminates with the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 against Duke in El Paso, Texas.

Everything, he said, will play out perfectly.

“I think this place will be pretty special,” Sims said after a recent practice, adding of coach Kenny Dillingham: “Kenny’s a team-first guy. He cares about his players as a coach. I feel like he’s building this program in the right direction.”

On Dec. 20, Dillingham agreed to an amended contract that further strengthens his commitment to the Sun Devils after he had been linked to coaching vacancies at various other programs and was being targeted by the Michigan Wolverines.

“I wouldn’t imagine that he would want to leave here," Sims said of Dillingham, who won't be going anywhere.

Sims, meanwhile, has no choice but to move on. He’s a senior, and the Sun Bowl will be his collegiate swan song and his sixth and final game of the season as the Sun Devils’ starter since replacing the injured Sam Leavitt, who reportedly is set to hit the transfer portal.

“He felt that was the best decision for him. I’m going to support him,” Sims said of Leavitt. “Right or wrong, that’s my dawg. That’s family. I feel like if he felt that was the best decision for him, I feel like that was the right decision.”

Though Sims has made more than six starts in a season only once in his college career — 11 as a freshman at Georgia Tech back in 2020 — he is confident he has a future in the NFL. He stands a chance of being invited to the NFL scouting combine Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis, and even if he isn’t, he plans to dive into pre-draft workouts and be ready to showcase his abilities to NFL teams at his pro day in Tempe.

Whether he becomes a late-round pick in the April NFL draft or happens to hook on as an undrafted rookie free agent, the 6-foot-4 Sims can see an opportunity ahead.

“However I get there, it really don’t matter to me,” he said. “As long as I get in there, that will make my year, that will make my life because I’ve been working my whole life for this.”

Backup college quarterbacks typically face tough odds of taking their game to the pro level, but throughout this season, Dillingham has said he feels the Sun Devils have two QBs “who can play on Sundays,” referring to Leavitt and Sims.

“He’s got a lot of reps, a lot of time on task,” ASU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo said. “He has to get off on the right foot, take care of the football and make some good decisions because at that level that’s the biggest thing. He’s got a lot of knowledge, he’s got a lot of talent, he’s a great team guy. He’s all about his work, he has no distractions. There’s a lot of boxes he checks.

“He’s just got to make sure when he goes out there and they turn the film on you get the productiveness that needs to be had at that level.”

Sims, who has passed for 886 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 466 yards and three more scores this season, says he just needs to get his foot in the door. He’ll do the rest from there.

“I think it’s going to be pretty successful,” he said of his possible NFL endeavors, whatever they may be. “I have a lot of faith in God, and I have a lot of belief in myself to where I feel my future can be pretty successful.”

Sims said he has some backup plans if the NFL doesn’t work out, but he isn’t focused on failing. He’s only looking forward and concerned about earning himself a shot.

How can he be sure a shot is coming?

“Because I know the ability that I have and I know where my strength comes from,” he said. “So, I know doors are going to open and it’s going to be about what I do.

“It’s going to be amazing. My family, we always talk about how the story is going to be amazing, too. It’s going to be cool to see everything that I’ve worked for, everything that I’ve prayed about, everything that I’ve dreamed of coming to fruition.”

Arroyo hopes it happens just the way Sims envisions.

“Every kid who grows up playing football wants an opportunity to play at the highest level,” the coach said. “If he has an opportunity to go on and continue and get into camp and play for an NFL team and get involved with that, there’s nothing more flattering and awesome to see.”

Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B on ESPN 620 (KTAR-AM).

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State football QB Jeff Sims confident in career path