University of Memphis Athletics
2020 Football Roster
Jersey Number 43
Ja'Len Sims
- Position:
- LB
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-2 / 225
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Hometown:
- Birmingham, Ala.
Bio
HonorsÂ
• 2019 AAC All-Academic Team
• Tiger 3.0 Club for 2019 fall semesters
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Appeared in all 12 games for the Tigers, primarily on special teams
• Had one tackle and one forced fumble in the team's win over No. 23/24 SMU
2020 (Redshirt Freshman)
• Member of the 8-3 Tigers who won the 2020 Montgomery Bowl
• Appeared in three games on the season
• Had one tackle in win over Arkansas State
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2019 (Freshman)
• Played in one game and gained a redshirt season
• Made collegiate debut against Penn State in the Cotton Bowl
• Member of the 2019 squad that finished with a 12-2 overall record, won the American Athletic Conference Championship and earned a berth to the 84th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Prior to Memphis/Personal
• Four-year varsity starter at Fultondale High School in Birmingham, Ala.
• Helped lead the Wildcats to three winning campaigns (2016-18) and four-consecutive Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 3A state playoff berths
• Wildcats won three regional titles (2016-18) and advanced to the AHSAA Class 3A state playoffs second round twice (2017, 2018)
• Piled up over 400 total tackles at his LB position his last three seasons
• Averaged 16 tackles a game as a freshman
• As a senior in 2018, had 114 tackles, 17 TFL, two interceptions, one sack, one fumble recovery and one defensive TD
• 2018 honors included: Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) All-State first team, AL.com Super All-State Team, AL.com All-Birmingham Region first team and Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game selection
• Led 2017 Wildcats to an 11-1 record, with the 11 victories a school record
• That season, was the anchor of the defense that allowed only 11.6 points a game
• Logged 162 total tackles his junior season
• 2017 honors included: ASWA All-State first team, AL.com Super All-State Team, AL.com Birmingham Region Defensive Player of the Year
• As a sophomore in 2016, logged 143 total tackles, 18 sacks and two interceptions
• Named to the ASWA All-State second team and AL.com All-Birmingham Region second team • Earned AL.com All-Birmingham Region second team honors his freshman season
• Son of Brandon and Tangee Sims
• 2019 AAC All-Academic Team
• Tiger 3.0 Club for 2019 fall semesters
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Appeared in all 12 games for the Tigers, primarily on special teams
• Had one tackle and one forced fumble in the team's win over No. 23/24 SMU
2020 (Redshirt Freshman)
• Member of the 8-3 Tigers who won the 2020 Montgomery Bowl
• Appeared in three games on the season
• Had one tackle in win over Arkansas State
Â
2019 (Freshman)
• Played in one game and gained a redshirt season
• Made collegiate debut against Penn State in the Cotton Bowl
• Member of the 2019 squad that finished with a 12-2 overall record, won the American Athletic Conference Championship and earned a berth to the 84th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Prior to Memphis/Personal
• Four-year varsity starter at Fultondale High School in Birmingham, Ala.
• Helped lead the Wildcats to three winning campaigns (2016-18) and four-consecutive Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 3A state playoff berths
• Wildcats won three regional titles (2016-18) and advanced to the AHSAA Class 3A state playoffs second round twice (2017, 2018)
• Piled up over 400 total tackles at his LB position his last three seasons
• Averaged 16 tackles a game as a freshman
• As a senior in 2018, had 114 tackles, 17 TFL, two interceptions, one sack, one fumble recovery and one defensive TD
• 2018 honors included: Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) All-State first team, AL.com Super All-State Team, AL.com All-Birmingham Region first team and Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game selection
• Led 2017 Wildcats to an 11-1 record, with the 11 victories a school record
• That season, was the anchor of the defense that allowed only 11.6 points a game
• Logged 162 total tackles his junior season
• 2017 honors included: ASWA All-State first team, AL.com Super All-State Team, AL.com Birmingham Region Defensive Player of the Year
• As a sophomore in 2016, logged 143 total tackles, 18 sacks and two interceptions
• Named to the ASWA All-State second team and AL.com All-Birmingham Region second team • Earned AL.com All-Birmingham Region second team honors his freshman season
• Son of Brandon and Tangee Sims
Memphis Athletics: 2025 Hoops For St Jude Press Conference-September 2, 2025
Tuesday, September 02
NIL Summit 2025
Friday, March 07
Soccer Stadium Fly Through
Monday, January 27
Memphis Athletics: One on One with Dr. Ed Scott- July 1, 2024
Monday, July 01
