Malik Sims, the heart of Viking defense, to announce college plans

Malik Sims has been the heart of the Vikings football defense for the past three years since he started at Warren Central in 2017. Now, he has plans to play at the college level.

The moment Sims became the starter, he had an everlasting impact on the defense with his hard hitting style. In 2017, he helped lead the Vikings to a 9-4 record, finishing the season with 72 tackles and two touchdowns. Sims started during the middle of that season and still made the all-county team.

The off season before his junior year, Sims was selected to attend to the Ray Lewis camp in Bradenton, Fla.

“Ray Lewis explained to me the importance of football and how to become leader on and off the field,” Sims said.

Lewis, one of the greatest players who played the game, preached to Sims on life and football, and Sims listened, as both played the same position.

“You got to be hungry for it,” Lewis told him, “and you got to put everything you got on.”

After his 2018 junior season, Sims made the all-county team again, finishing with 76 tackles. As his senior year rolled around, Sims had to play extra hard to prove to the scouts the he could play on the next level. Sims has played in multiple positions in his senior year, including middle linebacker, outside linebacker and running back, all to help his team make the playoffs.

“I didn’t mind playing all those positions, I just wanted to win the championship,” he said.

The Vikings season ended with a loss to Oxford last week, and Sims senior year ended with 94 tackles, three touchdowns, one interception and one sack.

“Coach Josh Morgan and coach [Matt] Williams stayed by my side the whole time, and I thank them for that, along with my former teammate Jeremy Miller,” Sims said, and included his parents, Annie and Michael Sims, and his brother, Michael Horton among those who wholeheartedly support him.

Sims plans to announce where he will play college football on Jan. 28, 2020. He will announce his college plans at the Warren Central High School Library surrounded by family and friends supporting his next move.