Brother of former Spartan TE Dion Sims joins Michigan State football as walk-on

The last name Sims has a special meaning at Michigan State football, and Dyson Sims will be looking for an opportunity to add to his older brother's legacy in East Lansing.

Amid Spring practice, the Spartans gained a new member for the 2024 season as Dyson Sims will join the team as a preferred walk-on wide receiver from Ann Arbor Huron High School. Sims made the news of his decision official via X, this past weekend, and cited his parents as a key reason why he's ready to take the next step in his football career.

"My dad introduced me to football when I was six and my mother pushed me and tested me mentally ever since," Sims said via an announcement on X.

Sims chose the PWO offer from the Spartans over similar offers from Louisville and Pittsburgh, among other offers. Sims was listed as a two-star recruit by 247Sports.

It's a great opportunity for Sims, who is fresh off a strong contribution in his senior campaign at Ann Arbor Huron where he caught 42 passes for 523 yards for the River Rats. His numbers on the defensive side of the ball were respectable as well with 57 tackles.

Division 1 athletics has been a common theme in the Sims family, as older brothers Dion and Demetrius can both attest to with the former playing football and the latter playing baseball.

His eldest brother Dion can be remembered for repping the Green and White as a tight end from 2009-2012 before ultimately being drafted in the 2013 NFL Draft and spending six seasons in the league with the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. Dion was a clear standout tight end, and I remember how important he was during the 2011 and 2012 seasons for Michigan State. He was certainly Andrew Maxwell's No. 1 target in 2012.

That is a strong legacy to carry on for Dyson, but he clearly knows what is ahead of him, and he shared that profoundly in announcing his commitment to join the Spartans.

"I would also like to to thank my brothers Dion and Demetrius," Sims said. "Them making it to college and the next level has made me push to complete the circle of all three of us making it to the D1 level... With that being said I'm proud to announce that I'll be following my brothers' footsteps and continuing the legacy at Michigan State University."

Those are some big shoes to fill, but he's a Sims and if anything he's going to prove his toughness and reliability much like his brother did.

To also get to work with position coach Courtney Hawkins, that is only going to benefit him in the long-run. Yes, he's a PWO, but everyone knows what Michigan State has been able to historically do with walk-ons who have turned into scholarship players, and even gone on to the pros.

To come in with other freshman receiver's in Nick Marsh, Austin Clay and Jaylan Brown, Sims should round on the room of young receivers nicely.

Definitely a welcomed pick-up by Coach Smith and the Spartans.