Longhorns Wire is continuing the series of jersey numbers to match the days until the Texas kicks off the season. On Thursday we find ourselves remembering number 77. No current Longhorn wears number 77.
Kenneth Sims, Defensive Tackle (1978-81)
Sims arrived in Austin in 1978 but wouldn’t become a full-time contributor to the team until 1980. He would be behind Steve McMichael and Bill Acker. Both of which were in the 1980 NFL Draft. Sims made his mark when he finally received his opportunity in the 1980 college football season for the Texas Longhorns.
In 1980, Sims would be named all-conference as well as consensus All-American for his performance. The Longhorns would start 5-0 that season with top 15 wins over Arkansas and Oklahoma but faltered down the stretch. They finished 7-5 with a loss to North Carolina in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
In 1981 it was a much different story. Sims would once again be named all-conference and Consensus All-American. He would finished eighth in Heisman Voting and win the Lombardi Trophy. The Lombardi is given to the top defensive lineman in the country. Sims would also be named the 1981 UPI Lineman of the Year. He was the last Longhorn to receive this honor before it ended in 1996. Texas finished 10-1-1 as the second ranked team in the AP poll after defeated Alabama in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Following his senior season, Sims was selected number one overall by the New England Patriots. He was the third Longhorn ever to be selected first overall and the last. Earl Campbell was selected in 1978 and Tommy Nobis in 1966. Sims played for eight seasons before his football career ended.
In 1985 he would have his best season recording 5.5 of his 17 career sacks. That year the Patriots made it to the Super Bowl but lost to the Chicago Bears. Sims played in 74 games and started 64 total. Sims was named to the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
Accomplishments:
- All-Southwest Conference Defensive Tackle (1980, 1981)
- Two-time Consensus All-American (1980, 1981)
- 1981 Team Co-Captain
- 1981 Lombardi Trophy Winner
- Number one overall selection in the 1982 NFL Draft
- Eight year NFL veteran
- Played in Super Bowl XX
- Texas Hall of Honor inductee in 1997