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Phillip Sims, a former quarterback at Alabama, has been there and done that when it comes to transferring in major college football.
He has transferred twice actually, first to Virginia after the 2011 season then to Division II power Winston-Salem State the following year. Sims was a teammate to Greyson Lambert at Virginia, the transfer signal caller who landed at Georgia last week to provide depth in a yet-to-be-determined quarterback race.
In an interview with Red & Black, Sims said the transition from the ACC to SEC won’t be easy for Lambert, but he has the skill set and mental make-up to make an impact between the hedges during his first season.
The toughest part after switching schools? Fitting in with new teammates and getting up to speed with an unfamiliar offensive philosophy.
Sims said it took an entire summer for him to learn the Cavaliers’ playbook.
Lambert will have around the same time.
“People look to you to lead, but it’s hard to lead when you don’t know how things are done there,” Sims told Red & Black. “It’s a tough balance to show your natural leadership abilities and fit in without stepping on anybody’s toes.”
According to Sims, Lambert looks a lot like Georgia’s two current quarterbacks — Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta — who fought for the starting job during spring practice. He’s an athlete with a big arm and pocket presence, two inches taller than his two primary competitors.
Lambert, as a graduate transfer, has two years of eligibility remaining at Georgia. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, speaking publicly for the first time about Lambert last week, cited depth as the reason the Bulldogs were interested in the 6-foot-5, 220-pound passer.
“It speaks to the fact that we are trying to create competition,” Schottenheimer said. “You’re talking to a guy who’s spent the last two years in the NFC West with two and three different quarterbacks a year.”
