HOUSTON, Texas — The West Virginia backfield is gaining a productive transfer with immediate eligibility after former University of Houston star Charles Sims chose to spend his final college season at WVU over Cal and UCLA, according to Fox 26 television.
“I’m familiar with the offense and I just felt comfortable at West Virginia,” Sims told the Houston station.
“I’m familiar with their schemes and what they have going.”
Though he’ll be a one-and-done player, Sims represents quite a summer catch for WVU, whose good-not-great backfield features junior college recruit Dreamius Smith, freshman signee Wendell Smallwood and junior returnees Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison.
While dealing with injuries each of the past two seasons, WVU coach Dana Holgorsen has repeatedly said he prefers to have a minimum of five running backs in stock.
Sims ran for more than 2,300 yards and caught 158 passes in three seasons at Houston, where he graduated with a degree in health education, making him eligible at another school. He initially expressed an interest in transferring to Texas Tech, but Houston coach Tony Levine blocked that move. (The school also restricted him from transferring to any school in Texas, or any member of the reconfigured American Athletic Conference, or any opponent on the Cougars’ 2013 schedule.)
Levine’s restrictions were somewhat understandable considering Sims surprisingly announced plans to transfer less than four months after reassuring Levine he would not enter the NFL draft because he wanted to finish his stellar career with the Cougars.
The 6-foot, 205-pound Sims averaged 6.2 yards per carry over his three seasons in Houston. He ran for 29 touchdowns and caught eight more.