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Cal could have running back issues in 2013. Brendan Bigelow could be the ultimate weapon, but his health is uncertain. Daniel Lasco is also recovering from injury, leaving Cal with Darren Ervin and Jeffrey Coprich as the two main players during spring ball. It's an unusual set of circumstances for a Golden Bear team that never had running back troubles with Ron Gould leading the way, but Pierre Ingram will probably have a more difficult set of circumstances with which to work.
So the Bears wouldn't mind adding more tailbacks to the roster, and a prime candidate might have opened up via transfer. ESPN's Joe Schad reported that Houston running back Charles Sims is leaving the Cougars, and will probably pass on the Supplemental Draft and try and improve his draft stock. Sims rushed for 5.96 yards per carry on 142 touches, but he was their leading ball-carrier (Houston tends to be a bit pass-heavy). He's a big back too, standing at 6'1 and weighing 213 pounds.
Charles Sims Highlights (via Vernon Jeffries)
Cal and West Virginia are now the two teams currently being considered. Current restrictions on Sims preclude him from transferring to an in-state school, an American Athletic Conference member (Houston's new digs), or a 2013 opponent.
Houston, like Cal and West Virginia, run offshoots of the Air Raid Offense, so it figures that Sims would try and find an offense that caters to his talents. Cal and West Virginia are more run-friendly than Houston though: The Cougars rushed 393 times compared to 591 passes last year; West Virginia went 469 rushes and 532 passes, Louisiana Tech 521 rushes and 533 passes. So it seems that Sims will have more opportunities to carry the football with either Dana Holgorsen or Sonny Dykes calling his number.
Sims has graduated, so he can play one year as a graduate student at either spot. The big question with Sims will come with regards to whether he can qualify for a graduate school program in Berkeley. Requirements aren't exactly easy for regular students; you have to imagine they're pretty stringent for a football player.
Sims is ranked as the 5th overall running back prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft.
If Sims transferred to Cal, would he start?