North Florida Christian's Ernie Sims III has a background of values, achievement and athletic talent. It shows on the field, and it showed in the Tribune's inaugural Best of the South voting.

From an early age, Tallahassee's Ernie Sims III was an exceptional athlete. These days, he's one of the most highly decorated prep football players in America, a linebacker/running back who can name his ticket.

This is no accident. This is no coincidence.

His father, Ernie Jr., was one of Hillsborough County's best running backs when he played at Jefferson High School in the mid-1970s. He ran 9.7 in the 100-yard dash. He earned a scholarship to Florida State University, where he capped his career by playing in the Orange Bowl.

His mother, the former Alice Bennett, was a seven-time All- America track and field athlete at FSU. She once held the school's long-jump record. She was part of a 4x100 relay team that beat UCLA, which included Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Florence Griffith Joyner.

''I think my parents gave me a pretty good athletic foundation,'' Sims said.

That's a pretty good understatement.

Sims, a 6-foot-1, 225- pounder whose talent has attracted dozens of recruiters to Class 1A North Florida Christian, was the top vote-getter on The Tampa Tribune's inaugural Best of the South team. College football recruiting coordinators whose programs routinely work the Southern region picked the team.

In an eye-opening season for talent, it might seem surprising that the No. 1 player comes from a high school with an enrollment of 272.

But for those who have witnessed Sims' career, there's no question about his ability. He had dozens of scholarship offers. In recent months, he narrowed the list to 10.

Now it's down to five possibilities: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Miami. He expects to make his decision close to the Feb. 5 signing date.

''If you're holding a stopwatch and Ernie runs a 4.42 (in the 40), does it really matter whether he plays at the 1A or 6A level?'' North Florida Christian coach Tim Cokely said. `His ability goes beyond the level of play.

''This is a kid any football coach would love to have. He sets an example for everyone with his work ethic. He comes from a great family. It has been like a dream.''

And it's not just about football. His mother and father, an ordained minister with Fellowship Baptist Church in Quincy, have emphasized a strong spiritual life. Academics are vital. And Last summer, Sims worked for minimum wage at Publix, building a self-reliant attitude he hopes to sustain in college.''Believe me, Ernie is not into his press clippings,'' his father said. ''I really think it is an act of God for him to be in this position. A lot of people are watching him, and they're seeing someone who never wants to be more than part of the team. It's hard to express how proud we are of him.''

Ernie Sims Jr., who played on Jefferson's unbeaten team in 1975, knows football can have pitfalls. At FSU, he became academically ineligible and had to return home for classes at Hillsborough Community College. He returned to finish football, then got his degree in education.

''Contrary to what some believe, the official visits to schools are not field trips or vacations,'' the elder Sims said. ''We are regarding them as business trips. We are gathering information from which to make a sound decision.

''Living in Tallahassee, of course there is pressure on Ernie to attend FSU. Most of his friends and their parents are FSU fans. But there's a lot that goes into it - everything from playing time to the available degrees to the coaching staff to the student life available. It will all be taken into consideration.''

Sims, who showed up at NFC as a fourth-grade water boy and matured into a nationally acclaimed athlete, said he will be happy when the recruiting process ends.

''I owe a lot to my parents,'' he said. ''I owe a lot to my school and my teammates. But pretty soon it will be time to move to another level.''

And time to fulfill the destiny provided by his family's athletic legacy.