Texans’ Steven Sims Jr. gives back at alma mater, excited about ‘great group’ of receivers, chasing Super Bowl goal

RICHMOND – Huddled up with a group of young football players at his alma mater Saturday morning, Steven Sims Jr. was in a reflective mood.

For the Texans wide receiver and return specialist, being back at his alma mater for his annual youth football camp is a way to impart knowledge about the game and pass on life lessons. It’s what he applied at Travis High School to earn a scholarship to Kansas before going undrafted and going on to play for his hometown Texans last season for the defending AFC South champions after previous stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington franchise.

“Man, it’s just a blessing to give back, to be able to give back,” Sims told KPRC 2 at a camp that included Texans offensive guard Kendrick Green, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington, a fellow Travis graduate, and trainer Danny Arnold of Plex. “It’s fun seeing the little kids compete. To come out here having fun, being able to go through the drills, it brings back so many memories of when I was out here: blood, sweat and tears trying to get to where I’m at now. I just remember it all started right here. You’ve got to build a solid foundation and go from there.”

That’s what the Texans and Sims did last year. In his first season with the Texans, they won the division title and beat the Cleveland Browns in an AFC wild-card playoff game.

Sims returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC divisional round playoff game loss, high-stepping into the end zone. It was the first playoff punt return for a score in the NFL since 2013.

“Everything,” Sims said when asked what it means for him to be back with the Texans. “This is where I want to be. This is where I want to finish my career. I want to keep going forever with the Texans and just want to build on where we left off last year.

“Had a great return, but, in the grand scheme of things, it means nothing. We lost the game and we didn’t reach our goals. That’s the bottom line. We want to reach our goals and I want to do everything I can to help the team get to our goal, which is the Super Bowl.”

Signed to a one-year, $1.325 million contract this offseason, Sims was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster for the Baltimore game after wide receiver Noah Brown was placed on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Sims had three catches for 25 yards and four punt returns for 49 yards and three kickoff returns for 71 yards in limited regular-season action.

Now, Sims is back with the Texans as part of a talented receiving corps that includes Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, Brown and Ben Skowronek.

“Man, it’s fun, Sims said. “I don’t worry about who’s around or anything. As I did on this field right here, I play my game, put in the work and let everything else handle itself. I leave it in God’s hand. I’m spiritual. I pray to God and I put in the work and I go from there.

“We’ve got a great group. I can’t wait to get back to camp. It’s going to be so much fun. I feel like there’s going to be a lot of big plays, a lot of fun, but it’s a business and it’s work. It’s time to get back to work and I’m excited to go back to work with the group we’ve got I feel like from top to bottom everybody can get it done.”

Sims has caught 78 career passes for 704 yards and has 1,706 return yards and 174 rushing yards for seven overall touchdowns in the NFL. In college, he caught 214 passes for 2,582 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Jayhawks.

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Having his parents and other friends join him for his camp was significant for Sims.

“I always tap in with Danny when I’m back in the city doing my camps,” Sims said. “Whenever I’m here not in the building with the team, I always train with Danny. It’s always fun to bring Danny and help Danny bring in more kids who can go work out at Plex, that’s what it’s all about. We’re all helping each other and coming together my family is here, my parents, my friends my college teammates, it’s an amazing thing. M son is here. Bringing the community here and being able to give back.”

Sims and Arnold put the campers through a series of drills, including a spirited one-on-one passing session.

“Man it’s great because you’re seeing all these kids,” Arnold said. “They’ve got the big dreams, but, not only that. They’re seeing a guy like Steven Sims who had that same big dream on that same field. It’s pretty cool. This is that same field they’re working out where Steven Sims put in all that hard work before he went off to college and now the Texans. It’s pretty neat. It’s completely free for the kids. You can’t beat that expertise and professional type coaching they probably wouldn’t get otherwise for free.”

Green was teammates with Sims last year and previously with the Steelers.

“It’s good man to show love to my boy, Steve,” Green said. “This is about to be my fourth season with Steve. Honestly, It’s kind of crazy. I’ve been with Steve ever since I’ve been in the league. I was in town. I figured why not pull up and show some love with the kids.

Like Sims, Washington is now in the NFL after excelling at Travis and then playing at Penn State and joining the Jaguars as a rookie last year.

When Washington was at Travis, Sims became a role model.

“It’s an exciting time for Steven,” Washington said. “I looked up to him forever, still do. Being able to support and see exciting things and being able to give back to the kids, that’s what it’s all about.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com