AMES - These days, when Iowa State releases the hounds defensively, David Sims usually leads the pack.

"I try to bring a strong, beastly mentality," said Sims, a safety and recent junior college transfer.

Sims, who will turn 23 next month, possesses a level of desire for football that can only be forged by criss-crossing the country searching for playing time.

Before this season, during which he leads the Cyclones with three interceptions, Sims was once an Oklahoma Sooner signee. He once was a prized, three-star recruit out of Gainesville, Fla. In 2007, he opened eyes on the juco circuit at Butte College in California, with four touchdown returns of 85 yards or more.

But, en route to Sooner territory, Sims became an academic casualty. He also became a father.

In barely two years, Sims' life had veered in a million directions. The disarray began in November 2008, when the coach that had originally signed Sims, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables, informed the safety of his academic shortcomings.

"Coach Venables called me and told me," said Sims, "and man, I was lost. I didn't know what I was gonna do next.

"But, that next day, I just made my highlight film and started sending it out to a lot of different schools."

Before long, explained first-year Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads, Sims was on the Cyclones' radar.

"We identified safety as a need," Rhoads recalled this week, "so we went after him very aggressively."

While spending the 2008 season sidelined in academic limbo, Sims had been in despair.

"I just hung out, and ran," he said. "I watched every game of Oklahoma's, because my mindset was still going back there."

Then, however, a call from new Iowa State secondary coach Chris Ash put Sims' football world back into motion.

"He called me and asked if I was interested," Sims explained. "I didn't have anything going on at the time, and I was like, 'I've gotta get somewhere.' So I came up here."

Now, the 5-foot-9, 208-pound strong safety has busied himself making jaw-dropping, one-handed interceptions, averaging 6.3 tackles per game and averaging a team-high 28.7 yards per kickoff return.

Sims has played with purpose, as he never loses sight of a goal of one day providing luxuries for his 1-year-old daughter, Amarianna, whom he occasionally has to shuffle off to daycare in Ames.

He's off to a nice start. After just two Division I games, Sims has already drawn comparisons to another undersized dynamo, former 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders.

"He's come in and made a big impact," Cyclone tight end Derrick Catlett said of Sims. "He is, pound for pound, the strongest guy on the team."

The native Floridian also runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. And, he has a knack for producing highlight-reel plays, like his one-handed circus interception last Saturday, which came just 64 seconds into a rivalry tilt with Iowa.

"I was reading the quarterback. I just had to get that ball - by any means necessary," Sims explained.

When you've been through what David Sims has been through, you do whatever it takes.

"I've gotta take advantage of all opportunities here," he said. "I'm just thankful to be here, to play again."